Suspension of two fire service officers approved in the Delhi coaching centre death incident

LG VK Saxena suspends the two fire service officers in the case.

In July this year, due to waterlogging, several deaths took place at a coaching centre in Old Rajendra Nagar, Delhi. In the case, two fire service officers have now been suspended by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The suspension was announced for their alleged negligence in connection with the deaths of three civil service aspirants in a flooded basement of a coaching centre that took place on July 27, 2024, as reported by the news agency PTI.

Approval of immediate suspension of two fire service officers.

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved the immediate suspension of two Delhi Fire Service officers for their alleged negligence in connection with the deaths of three civil service aspirants in a flooded basement of Delhi’s coaching centre in July this year. The LG office has accused divisional officer Ved Pal and assistant divisional officer Udai Vir Singh, both Group ‘A’ officers, of negligence and withholding information. The note stated, “Ved Pal, Divisional Officer, and Udai Vir Singh, Assistant Divisional Officer, have been placed under suspension following a thorough investigation into the incident.”

“They also did not refer the matter to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).”

The district magistrate’s detailed inquiry revealed the suspended officers had inspected the premises for issuing a Fire Safety Certificate, but they “failed to report the misuse of the basement as a library. They also did not refer the matter to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), leading to the erroneous issuance of the Fire Safety Certificate on July 9.”

The investigation further highlighted the lapses by MCD authorities who neglected to inspect and seal the illegal library and issued a completion-cum-occupancy certificate in September 2021.