Mumbai:
A three-year-old child died in a Mumbai slum on Tuesday night after he slipped and fell into an open gutter while playing. The death is the second unfortunate incident after Sunday night's disappearance of another child Ayub, also in the Mankhurd area.
The three-year-old's grandmother claims he too fell into an open manhole. Though a 24- hour search could not find his body, but the two incidents coming close to the each other are raising questions on whether the civic administration is doing enough to keep the city's drainage system covered. (See killer drains of Mumbai)
The three-year-old Shahnawaz Sheikh fell into an open gutter and died almost instantly on late Tuesday evening.
His death came just two days after the disappearance of another three-year-old Ayub, who his family claims fell into an open manhole.
Shahnawaaz was playing last evening outside his house. Around 7- 7:30 pm, he went missing. His mother, who was preparing food inside the house, went looking for him. It is only later when she took a torch to look for him inside this open drain, she saw his little hand emerging from this slush. And then she fished out the three-year-old boy.
Commenting on the incident, Shahnawaz's mother Raeesa Shaikh said, "He had fallen into the gutter two-three days back. That time I pulled him out and bathed him. He was fine. This time he died. "
The locals have complained to the local corporator that this drain has been open for the past six months, but they have not got any kind of help from the corporator.
"This is not the first time, our kids often fall into the drain, "said Shaheeda, Raeesa's neighbour.
Civic authorities say that Mumbai has over 55,000 manholes, of which just about 1% are uncovered. Often because the wrought iron covers get stolen to be sold in scrap.
They say given that over 40% of Mumbai is occupied by slums, it's virtually impossible to cover every open gutter. Especially in illegal slums like the one where the children died in Mankhurd.
Commenting on the incident, Mumbai's Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Engineering)
Dnyaneshwar Shinde said, "This is a very unfortunate incident. We have told all ward offices to pick up covers from the central office and ensure and everything that can be covered is covered."
The assurances apart, back in the Mankhurd slum; Shahnawaz's family is mourning his death. Hoping and praying their son's fate doesn't befall others.
The three-year-old's grandmother claims he too fell into an open manhole. Though a 24- hour search could not find his body, but the two incidents coming close to the each other are raising questions on whether the civic administration is doing enough to keep the city's drainage system covered. (See killer drains of Mumbai)
The three-year-old Shahnawaz Sheikh fell into an open gutter and died almost instantly on late Tuesday evening.
His death came just two days after the disappearance of another three-year-old Ayub, who his family claims fell into an open manhole.
Shahnawaaz was playing last evening outside his house. Around 7- 7:30 pm, he went missing. His mother, who was preparing food inside the house, went looking for him. It is only later when she took a torch to look for him inside this open drain, she saw his little hand emerging from this slush. And then she fished out the three-year-old boy.
Commenting on the incident, Shahnawaz's mother Raeesa Shaikh said, "He had fallen into the gutter two-three days back. That time I pulled him out and bathed him. He was fine. This time he died. "
The locals have complained to the local corporator that this drain has been open for the past six months, but they have not got any kind of help from the corporator.
"This is not the first time, our kids often fall into the drain, "said Shaheeda, Raeesa's neighbour.
Civic authorities say that Mumbai has over 55,000 manholes, of which just about 1% are uncovered. Often because the wrought iron covers get stolen to be sold in scrap.
They say given that over 40% of Mumbai is occupied by slums, it's virtually impossible to cover every open gutter. Especially in illegal slums like the one where the children died in Mankhurd.
Commenting on the incident, Mumbai's Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Engineering)
Dnyaneshwar Shinde said, "This is a very unfortunate incident. We have told all ward offices to pick up covers from the central office and ensure and everything that can be covered is covered."
The assurances apart, back in the Mankhurd slum; Shahnawaz's family is mourning his death. Hoping and praying their son's fate doesn't befall others.
