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New Delhi, Nov 7 (IANS) Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved disciplinary action against two senior fire department officials for negligence and hiding facts in the death of three students in the basement of a coaching center in Old Rajendra Nagar last year.
Divisional officer Vedpal and assistant divisional officer Udayveer Singh had allegedly submitted a false report after inspecting the basement on July 1, 2024, and illegally allowed it to be used as a library.
The false report had become the basis of the fire safety certificate that was issued to the coaching center on July 9 for using the basement as a library, the official said.
The official said that soon after the tragic death of three IAS aspirants in the basement, both the officers were suspended.
An official statement said that action has now been initiated against him under Rules 14 and 18 of the CCS (Commission on Civil Aviation) Rules, 1965.
The Lieutenant Governor has directed the Vigilance Department to complete the investigation within the stipulated time.
On July 27, 2024, three students died due to water logging in the illegal basement after heavy rains. The deceased students were Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana and Naveen Delvin from Kerala.
This incident triggered protests over the alleged negligence of government agencies in allowing the illegal use of the basement as a library. This space was officially designated for parking and storage only.
Following heavy rain, three victims drowned while 17 others were trapped for several hours, exposing a significant safety breach.
A petitioner also approached the Delhi High Court to order the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation into the incident.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had also constituted a committee to investigate the incident.
The committee included Additional Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs, Principal Home Secretary of Delhi, Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, Fire Advisor and Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry.
–IANS
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