‘Why was the drain open?’ asks toddler’s family as 2-year-old boy drowns while playing in rain in Delhi
A joint rescue operation of different agencies with the help of locals led to the recovery of the child from the sewer, said officers. The body has been shifted to the hospital and further probe is underway.
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Nikunj's family has accused the civic body of negligence. “It took over three hours to find my nephew. Where were the agencies? Why was the drain open?” asked Mohit, the child’s uncle. (Express photo)A two-year-old boy drowned in an open drain while playing in the rain outside his house in Outer Delhi’s Narela on Saturday morning. After the toddler went missing, his uncle alleged, it took three hours before he was found in the drain. The family has accused the civic authorities of negligence, alleging that several complaints were registered earlier about the open drains in the area.
The police said that information about a child falling into a sewer on Furni Road in Khera Khurd village was received around 11.30 am. “By responding quickly, the police team rushed to the spot and called the Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, and other agencies for necessary action. Fire tenders, the child helpline, and MCD staff with equipment also reached the scene, and a rescue operation was initiated,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Hareshwar V. Swami.
The boy has been identified as Nikunj. His father, Gautham, is in the welding business. (Express photo)
“It was found that the child accidentally fell into the sewer around 10:30 am while playing in the heavy rain. After searching for him and failing to find him, his parents made a PCR call,” the DCP said. The boy has been identified as Nikunj. His father, Gautham, is in the welding business.
A joint rescue operation of different agencies with the help of locals led to the recovery of the child from the sewer, said officers. The body has been shifted to the hospital and further probe is underway.
Nikunj’s family has accused the civic body of negligence. “It took over three hours to find my nephew. Where were the agencies? Why was the drain open?” asked Mohit, the child’s uncle.
The toddler’s uncle alleged that the residents had complained to the civic authority several times about the open drains but they never took note of the public grievances.
“They did not even clean the drain before the rain. We need strict action against these officials,” Mohit said.
The civic authority concerned is yet to respond to the incident.
Meanwhile, in a statement, AAP’s Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed the BJP government over the incident. “I had warned CM Rekha Gupta that opening manholes during rain is a dangerous shortcut.”
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