NHRC Probes Boy’s Death After Falling into Open Drain in Delhi

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report detailing the tragic death of a five-year-old boy who fell into an open drain in the Alipur area of North West Delhi on October 7, 2024. According to the report, the contractor responsible for the area had left multiple drains uncovered without providing any warning signs, leading to the boy's death. This incident marks the fifth such tragedy in the national capital in recent months, raising serious concerns about the safety of public spaces.

The NHRC expressed grave concern over the recurring nature of such incidents, indicating a clear negligence on the part of civic authorities. The Commission noted that these repeated accidents reflect a severe lapse in duty by the public bodies responsible for maintaining public infrastructure. The failure to secure open drains poses a significant threat to human life and represents a violation of the fundamental rights of the victims.

In response to the report, the NHRC has issued notices to several key authorities, including the Chief Secretary of the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, the Commissioner of Police, the Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). These officials have been directed to submit detailed reports within four weeks, addressing the status of First Information Reports (FIRs) filed in these cases, the actions taken against those responsible for the negligence, and any compensation provided to the victims' families.

The NHRC also emphasized the need for authorities to provide details on the measures taken or proposed to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. The Commission is keen to ensure that public safety is prioritized and that proper accountability is maintained for any lapses.

The NHRC’s notice is based on a media report from October 8, 2024, which highlighted multiple similar incidents in recent months. Earlier in October, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl tragically lost her life after falling into an open drain in northeast Delhi's Khajuri Khas area. In September, a 32-year-old man died after falling into an uncovered drain in Bhajanpura, another locality in northeast Delhi. August saw the body of a seven-year-old boy recovered from an open drain in northwest Delhi’s Ashok Vihar, and another man perished in Paschim Vihar after a similar accident that same month. In July, two significant incidents occurred: the deaths of a woman and her son in a drain in east Delhi's Ghazipur area, and another case where a man died after his car fell into a drain in north Delhi’s Burari area.

These incidents highlight a disturbing pattern of negligence by the civic bodies tasked with maintaining public infrastructure in the capital. The NHRC has expressed alarm that, despite numerous deaths caused by unsafe open drains, the authorities have yet to take adequate steps to address the issue. Many of these deaths were preventable had proper safety measures been implemented.

The Commission’s notice is aimed at holding the relevant authorities accountable and ensuring that corrective actions are taken to prevent further loss of life. The NHRC underscored the importance of filing FIRs in each case and taking swift action against those found responsible for negligence. Additionally, the Commission sought clarity on the compensation provided to the victims' families, as this is a crucial part of the redressal process.

The NHRC has a history of intervening in cases where public safety has been compromised due to administrative lapses. In the past, the Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of similar incidents involving drowning and electrocution in the national capital. On each occasion, it has issued directives to the concerned authorities, urging them to take preventive measures and remain vigilant.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)