2-year-old toddler dies after falling into an open drain in Giridih, he was out shopping with his parents

“As the rain intensified, the bike they were riding on reportedly lost control and hit the open drain. In a split second, the child fell onto the road and was carried away by the gushing water. Despite desperate efforts by the family, the strong current swept him into the drain,” said Gyan Ranjan, In-charge, Town (Nagar) police station.

On receiving information, the Nagar police, district administration, and municipal teams reached the spot and launched a search operation. The police said excavators were deployed to break open parts of the drain, and pumps were used to clear water. “The rescue continued through the night but had to be halted around 3 am due to heavy rain and darkness,” Ranjan said.

Ranjan said that search operations resumed on Sunday morning. “Unfortunately, the child’s body was seen and recovered today at around 11 am,” he added.

According to sources, the drain was left open by the municipal authorities due to ongoing preparations for Durga Puja.

Ramniwas Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, Giridih, said the incident occurred in a part of town where three drains converge. “While most drains were covered, only one section was left open for cleaning and to allow road water to flow. The parents, riding a bike, were caught in a sudden jolt when the child slipped into the open drain section. The strong current caused by the heavy rain carried the child nearly two kilometres away,” he said.

The incident has triggered anger among locals, who accused the authorities of negligence. On Sunday morning, residents blocked the main road near the spot, demanding accountability and immediate safety measures. They alleged that the drain should have been covered with slabs as per municipal rules and claimed that quicker action could have saved the child’s life.

In response, the deputy commissioner said the road blockade was the result of a misunderstanding and it was quickly resolved.

“The cause of death was drowning, so appropriate compensation and other assistance have been provided to the family. Additionally, the postmortem has been completed, and the body has been handed over to the family,” said Yadav.

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