Basement meant to be used as parking or godown, not library

THE Rau's IAS coaching institute, where three aspirants tragically lost their lives on Saturday after getting drowned in the rainwater which had accumulated in the basement of the building, was illegally operating a library in the basement area, flouting all norms.

- UJWAL JALALI

What added to the problem was that the calamity could have been prevented had the people not encroached on the streets and covered the storm drains, an MCD official at the spot said on Sunday.

Delhi Fire Service Director Atul Garg confirmed to this newspaper that the coaching institute had permission to use the basement as a store room, but it was being used as a library, which is a violation of the rules.