Park bench, a dead end for 9-year-old

Recalling the tragedy, Prashant’s playmate Kunal says Prashant sat on the bench after playing cricket with his friends. “Suddenly, the bench turned turtle and Prashant was buried beneath. We could see blood oozing out of his head. We cried for help, but though a huge crowd gathered, no one came forward to rescue him.” The police chowki, barely 10 feet away, was deserted. Finally, three of his friends managed to raise the bench while two others dragged him out. “Prashant’s eyes were open. He was bleeding from his eyes and ears, and his hands were shaking,” shudders Kunal.

Prashant’s parents finally carried him to a nearby private doctor, but they were refused admission. He was then rushed to Sion Hospital, but the deadly delay had taken its toll. He was declared dead by `intra-cranial haemorrhage’.

Ironically, the long benches of Five Gardens, a favourite haunt for many, were recently converted by local corporator Babubhai Bhawanji into single sitters to discourage “certain elements”.

Bhawanji squarely blamed the municipal office for failing to maintain the benches in proper shape. “After that incident, I visited the spot and instructed the ward officer to fix the bench. The executive power rests with them. We merely have the title. For the last three years, there has been no municipal security here,” he said. Argued F North ward officer D D Jadhav, “When children sit on the edge, and that too about five or six at a time, what do you expect? Even the police say the death was accidental. This is the first incident that has happened in these gardens.” He added, “I am sending an assistant engineer now to fix it.” Former corporator Rustom Tirandaz felt that the idea to convert benches into single benches was an exercise in futility. “They were more concerned about couples making love on them. What about basic maintenance like fixing nails into the seat and cementing the foundation into the ground ?” he asked.

The Agarwal family has now decided to prevent this tragedy from befalling others. Agarwal does not rule out invoking his legal rights to teach the `culprits’ a lesson.

“A week before the accident, a little girl also fell down, but was saved because her parents were there with her. A fortnight later, another boy was injured,” he said.

The senior inspector of Matunga police station Netaji Tembevekar explained that his men are usually on patrol in the area considering its vastness and vulnerability to crime. After this incident, they have decided to station a couple of constables permanently at the chowki.