New Delhi:
In yet another case of civic apathy, a 12-year-old boy died after he fell into a pit allegedly dug by Delhi Jal Board for laying water pipeline in a south Delhi locality.
The incident was reported from Panchasheel Enclave in south Delhi on Monday afternoon when victim Sonu, a resident of Chirag Dilli, went to have a bath with his friend after playing Holi.
The boy took a bath in the water-filled pit, which was dug to lay water pipeline by DJB, and accidentally drowned in it though his friend tried to save him, a senior police official said.
The incident took place at around 4 PM and divers from the fire brigade, which was informed at around 4:30 PM, fished out the body from the pit later.
Police have registered a case of causing death due to negligence against DJB and Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Locals alleged that there was no sign board to warn people about the pit and blocked traffic in Chirag Dilli this morning.
A DJB spokesperson said, "We are not at all involved in digging work. This is nothing to do with DJB. We have a pipeline there beneath the pit but no work was going on there. The pit was not created by us."
The spokesperson said that the DJB has carried out an inspection which has revealed that the pit was dug by Horticulture Department of DDA. Officials of DDA were not available for comment.
Opposition Leader V K Malhotra alleged that the incident is the testimony of "criminal negligence" on the part of DJB.
"According to the statement of locals, the work of laying of water pipe line was in progress for the last six months by the Project Division of DJB, but the work has not been completed till date. The DJB officials are trying to throw their responsibility on DDA," he said.
The body has been sent for postmortem.