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The tragic incident that unfolded in Delhi's Rajinder Nagar, where three IAS aspirants lost their lives due to basement flooding, has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of businessman Manuj Kathuria. Kathuria, while driving home amidst heavy rain, allegedly crossed a flooded road, causing a wave that reportedly led to the collapse of a coaching centre's gate, allowing water to inundate the basement where the library was located. He has been charged under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Kathuria's lawyer, Rakesh Malhotra, vehemently argues that his client was simply driving on a road that was open to traffic, albeit at a reduced speed of 15 kmph. He contends that the waterlogging on the road created ripples that affected the building's gate, resulting in its collapse and subsequent flooding of the basement. Malhotra highlights that other vehicles also passed the same stretch before and after Kathuria, and that it was impossible to anticipate the consequences of the water wave on the building's structure. He also criticizes the coaching centre's lack of a drainage system and the lack of action by civic authorities, suggesting that they were responsible for the tragedy.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with many questioning the responsibility of Kathuria and the authorities involved. While the police have taken action against Kathuria, the focus has also shifted towards the negligence of the coaching centre and the civic authorities in failing to address the waterlogging issue. The incident raises serious concerns about the safety of students in such institutions and the need for stricter regulations to ensure their well-being.