9-yr-old boy falls in pit,drowns

Om Prakash Chaddha,a mortuary attendant at the hospital,said,“After he returned from tuition around 6 pm,he went to play with his friends.

An hour later,a construction labourer at the site saw his body in the pit and pulled him out,after which he was rushed to the hospital.”

Officials of the Lady Hardinge Hospital said,“The child was admitted to the ICU around 7.30 pm on Wednesday. He had suffered a cardiac arrest as well as respiratory failure due to the water in his lungs. His heart rate and blood pressure were also very low. Adrenaline shots were administered and he was put on a ventilator. He passed away at around 4 pm on Thursday.”

Ajay Prakash said,“We have complained to the company several times,but nothing was done. This is a case of gross negligence. There were no security guards to prevent children from entering either.”

While the company concerned,SAM India Private Limited remained unavailable for comment,the open pit was covered immediately after the incident.

Additional Commissioner of Police (New Delhi),K C Dwivedi,said,“We have registered a case against the construction company. It was constructing staff quarters for Lady Hardinge.”