An 8-year-old boy died after falling into a water-filled construction pit in Malad East while retrieving a ball. Residents have alleged negligence by the developer for not securing the site, as police begin an investigation into the tragic incident
-1774190319704_d.png "Mumbai: 8-year-old boy dies after falling and drowning in an uncovered construction pit")
Construction pit in Kurar village where the incident took place. (Pic/Sarthak Mehta)
An eight-year-old boy lost his life after falling into a water-filled construction pit in Malad East, police said on Friday.
The incident was reported in the early hours of Friday by Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, where the child was taken. According to police, the incident took place around 8 pm on Thursday at Chagan Patel Chawl in Ambewadi, Kurar Village. The boy, identified as Divyansh Rajesh Mourya, had reportedly entered the site to retrieve a ball when he accidentally fell into a pit filled with water.
The excavation work was being carried out by a private contractor. Personnel from the Mumbai Police rescued the child and rushed him to the hospital in Kandivali. However, he was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer.
Officials from Kurar Village Police Station have registered the incident, and further investigation is underway.
The victim's father, Rajesh Mourya, said, "We realised that my son was missing around 8 pm. I, along with my family and friends, searched for him across the neighbourhood multiple times. Knowing that this risky pit is there, I had checked the pit also, but due to the lack of light there, I couldn't see him the first time."
He further added, "I finally found the body around 3 am at the pit. I just sat there, holding his lifeless body in my arms. My friends took him to the hospital, where they said that he died 2 hours ago. He wouldn't have lost his life if the pit had been properly covered and the building's and chawls' border had been fenced."
Residents allege negligence from the developer
Residents of the chawl, including family members, claim that the uncovered pit has been there for years. The pit is 15-20 ft deep, and appropriate safety measures like fencing at risky points and covering the pit have not been taken by the builder; instead, the builder allegedly uses the drain water pooled in the pit for his construction requirements.
Developer's response
Midday tried calling the contact numbers listed on the website of the developer, but the numbers were unreachable. The developer could not reply to Midday's email request for comment by press time.
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