The family contended that it had repeatedly informed the local civic body about the urgent need to close an open construction area outlet.
Published Sep 07, 2023 | 10:17 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 07, 2023 | 10:17 PM
CCTV footage showed the watchman removing the drain cover. (Supplied)
The police in Telangana on Thursday, 7 September, registered a case against the president and watchman of an apartment complex for the drowning of a four-year-old boy in an open drain.
This came after a fierce dispute erupted between the boy’s grieving family and the Nizampet Municipal Corporation, which is responsible for the civic upkeep of the NRI Colony of Pragathi Nagar in the Bachupally area of Hyderabad, where the incident occurred.
The family contended that it had repeatedly informed the municipality about the urgent need to close an open construction area outlet that was causing water levels to surge dangerously during rainstorms.
Santosh, the father of four-year-old Mithun, expressed their frustration, saying, “We are in no condition to run from one police station to another.”
In response to the tragic death of four-year-old Mithun, the official Nizampet Municipal Corporation statement read, “A precious young life was lost in Nizampet due to the removal of a precast slab from the stormwater drain. We urge all citizens of Nizampet to refrain from removing manhole covers and precast slabs from drains without informing the municipal corporation. Additionally, it is advised not to touch electric poles during rain. For any assistance, please contact our helpline at 040-29569700.”
Ritender Reddy, a relative of the family, said, “We don’t understand why people are diverting attention from my nephew Mithun’s death on social media.”
He added: “The fact is that despite significant funds allocated, open drains remain a threat, causing severe flooding whenever it rains in the lane where the tragedy occurred.”
He continued: “Our family is suffering because of this loss, and the funeral has already taken place. We demand justice because open drains are a common problem in Pragathi Nagar and many other colonies, but the authorities refuse to acknowledge their responsibility.”
The circulation of CCTV footage on social media intensified the debate surrounding Mithun’s death.
One video showed the young boy falling into the open drain, but another clip raised questions about whether someone deliberately opened the precast slab covering the drain.
Rumours claimed that the person directing the opening of the drain was the president of Spatial Gardenia, the apartment complex where the boy lived, and the individual removing the slab was the watchman.
Police Inspector N Suman Kumar said about the ongoing investigation, “The boy’s body couldn’t be put through a post-mortem examination without the registration of a case.”
He added: “On 5 September, when the boy’s body was discovered, a case was registered under Section 174 (police inquiry) of the IPC. The boy’s father filed a complaint at the Bachupally Police Station, leading to the post-mortem examination at Gandhi Hospital.”
He, however, confirmed to South First late on Thursday that a case under Section 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) had been registered against Spatial Gardenia Apartment president Krishnaiah and watchman Bharat for opening the drain lid.
The viral videos on social media suggested that the president of the residents’ welfare association instructed the watchman to remove the precast slab from the stormwater drain, he added.
The tragic death of four-year-old Mithun has ignited discussions about the safety of Hyderabad’s infrastructure.
One grieving mother, whose 10-year-old daughter Mounica fell into an open drain four months ago in Kalasiguda in Secunderabad, shared her sorrow and frustration.
“My child was very active and even managed our general store in my absence. On 29 April, she went to buy milk with her older brother, who has a disability. There were witnesses who saw her brother slip and watched as she pushed him to safety. Unfortunately, she didn’t realise that she was inches away from an open drain, and the swift current swept her away,” recalled Mounica’s mother.
“It has been four months since we lost her, and we are haunted by her memory,” she added.
Mounica’s family remembers her as someone who excelled in her studies, handled the store’s finances, and even helped her brother with his academics.
But now that she is no longer with them, her disabled brother has been enrolled in a special school.
The tragic loss of these young lives underscores the urgent need for better infrastructure and safety measures to protect our children and prevent further tragedies.
