Vikas Divyakirti Interview
The case of the death of three UPSC students in Delhi’s Old Rajendra Nagar is escalating. Students have been expressing their anger against Drishti IAS and Vikas Divyakirti since the incident. Now, Divyakirti has shared his side of the story. He revealed several facts during his interview with news agency ANI. Read the full interview below.
Vikas Divyakirti Interview: “We Will Never Work in a Basement Again,” Vikas Divyakirti Apologizes; Issues Statement
Highlights
- Vikas Divyakirti breaks his silence
- Questions raised about the system after the Delhi incident
ANI, New Delhi. Vikas Divyakirti, the owner of the renowned coaching institute Drishti IAS in Delhi, has broken his silence on the Old Rajendra Nagar incident. This is his first response after the death of three UPSC students. During this, Vikas Divyakirti said that he fully agrees with the action taken by the administration to seal the coaching center running in the basement.
A day earlier, the government had sealed the basement of the Drishti IAS institute due to legal violations. Dr. Vikas Divyakirti said he agrees with the action taken by the administration.
He stated that the anger arising from the incident where students died due to waterlogging in a coaching center in Rajendra Nagar is justified. He called for guidelines for coaching centers to be implemented by the authorities.
Divyakirti emphasized that he avoids placing all the blame on one party. He pointed out the lack of coordination between different laws and agencies and hinted at corruption. He expressed his distress after watching the video.
Public Anger Over the Basement Justified – Divyakirti
In a long conversation with news agency ANI, Dr. Vikas Divyakirti acknowledged the widespread anger regarding the basement issue. He agreed that the basement should be sealed. However, he pointed out that Delhi Metro operates underground, Palika Bazaar is in the basement, and many large shopping complexes in Delhi malls are also in basements because they are properly constructed.
We Will Never Work in a Basement Again – Divyakirti
He said, “I am saying on record that we have submitted the complete layout structure of the basement for NOC to MCD, DDA, and the fire department, and there has been no rejection yet. But, seeing what happened in the last three days, I feel it was negligence. We never had this thought, and I am openly stating that even if we get permission in the future, we will not work in a basement. I assure you of that. No coaching institute should operate in a basement.”
Full Attention Given to Student Safety – Divyakirti
He added that their efforts to maintain building safety norms are unmatched. They appointed a divisional head rank officer 1.5 years ago to oversee building safety. In January 2023, they created a WhatsApp group, which he is a member of, to ensure 16 safety points are checked daily. These include ensuring doors are open, fire exits are clear, and roof doors are accessible in emergencies. He invited anyone to survey any of their branches, stating that he is responsible if any building has fewer than two exits.
“We do not rent buildings without fire exits. The safety of students and staff is our priority. I apologize to the entire nation and society for this mistake and assure that it will not be repeated.”
Before this, a large number of students gathered outside his house on Monday night, demanding a response after the basement was sealed.
I Apologize for Delayed Response – Divyakirti
In a statement shared on ‘X’, Divyakirti expressed regret for the delay in sharing his side. He explained that they did not want to comment based on incomplete information and sincerely apologized for the delay.
Regarding the meeting with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Dr. Vikas Divyakirti mentioned that many bureaucrats were present, but no Delhi government leaders attended. He appreciated the Lieutenant Governor’s active involvement. A small committee, including him, other teachers, and heads of DDA and MCD, has been formed to find solutions through meetings.
Why Vikas Divyakirti Remained Silent Until Now
Explaining his silence on the incident, Drishti IAS founder Divyakirti said it is his nature not to express much. The tragic death of three students deeply affected him, and he couldn’t stop thinking about what those students went through when water flooded in.
He met with a few students on Tuesday and held a meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, which included students, coaching institute owners, and senior officials from DDA, MCD, the fire department, and the Chief Secretary.
Death of Three UPSC Candidates
On the evening of July 27, three students named Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana, and Nevin Dalvin from Kerala died due to water entering the basement of a coaching institute building in Old Rajendra Nagar.
