Recent tragedies elsewhere do not seem to have any effect on law enforcement authorities in Gandhinagar, where basement libraries and unsafe accommodations continue to endanger the lives of aspirants to competitive exams. 

The death of three students in a flooded basement at Rau’s IAS Coaching Center in Delhi prompted authorities to seal another institute for violating building norms. However, similar safety issues persist in Gandhinagar.

While the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation has closed restaurants operating in basements following the TRP Game Zone incident in Rajkot, libraries and accommodations for exam candidates remain unchecked. 

Such basement libraries continue to operate in Gandhinagar’s Sectors 2, 3, and 8, occupying spaces meant for storage or parking.

Further complicating the situation, many PG (paying guest) facilities operate illegally in residential buildings, often without proper student registration at local police stations.

Aspiring candidates, many from outside Gandhinagar, pay ₹1,200–₹1,500 for library access, alongside substantial fees for coaching and accommodation. An aspiring constable from Surendranagar reported monthly expenses of ₹6,000 for PG accommodation, ₹1,500 for library use, and up to ₹25,000 for coaching classes.

Coming as it does in the wake of preventable tragedies such as the New Delhi flooding on July 27 and the Rajkot TRP Game Zone fire on May 25, this ongoing situation in Gujarat’s capital raises serious questions about student safety and regulatory oversight.

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Students rise for protest in Delhi after 3 UPSC aspirants die in flooded basement