‘Just hoping to get his body’: After 2 days, father waits by Delhi drain

He said on Monday that the family had lost hope of their son being found alive. “We know we won’t find our child safe and sound. We are just hoping to get his body so our hearts can find some peace,” the father said.

His wife, Anitha, was inconsolable. “It has been two days, and I haven’t seen his face. He was a very good boy. He used to even correct his teachers if they got their questions wrong,” the grieving mother said.

The MCD issued the order suspending one of its junior engineers on Monday evening. The Chief Minister’s Office stated that this action was taken based on CM Rekha Gupta’s instructions.

“Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expresses strong displeasure and deep sorrow over this incident. She directed the Chief Secretary to provide information about the drain in question within an hour and suspend the guilty officer,” read a statement by the CMO.

The rescue operation, which entered its second day Monday, was carried out by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services (DFS) and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

Two earthmovers and a mini-lorry were stationed along the drain, while Awadhesh paced up and down, frantically making calls to relatives. Mud, plastic waste and debris choked the gaping drain.

The search operation was paused in the afternoon when heavy rainfall lashed the city. The wait further agitated the distraught family.

“They say they have stopped midway due to the rain. They gave the same excuse yesterday and the day before. Had they put more effort, we would have found our child’s body by now,” said Awadhesh.

DCP (South East) Vinit Kumar said that rescue operation is “ongoing without any delay” and will continue until the child is found.

 A police officer present at the site, meanwhile, said: “We are now laying soil to create a path for the excavators to remove the waste from the drains. We have searched all other possible areas.”