8-year-old boy falls into manhole covered with cardboard in Delhi's Defence colony, rescued

Digital Desk: Delhi witnessed a shocking incident on Saturday when an eight-year-old boy, Jasmeet Singh, was rescued after falling into a manhole covered with cardboard in the Defence Colony area. The mishap occurred in front of South Delhi Public School, where Jasmeet was being dropped off by his father, Ajeet Singh, and was accompanied by his mother and younger sister.

According to the Delhi Police, the manhole was deceptively covered with a plyboard. When Jasmeet stepped on it, the board gave way, causing him to fall into the sewer. Fortunately, the boy was promptly rescued by bystanders and did not sustain any injuries.

Ajeet Singh recounted the harrowing experience, explaining how his wife managed to grab Jasmeet's hand, while others assisted in pulling him out. "The pit was deep, so I had to lie down on the road to help rescue my child," Ajeet said. He noted that the sewer was filled with chest-deep water and speculated on the potential dangers had it rained, causing the sewer to overflow.

Following the rescue, Jasmeet was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for immediate medical attention. He received first aid and was under observation for 7-8 hours. Though physically unscathed, the ordeal left him shaken. Ajeet mentioned that his son woke up multiple times at night, still terrified from the incident.

Expressing his concerns, Ajeet highlighted the negligence involved, questioning why the sewer was not properly covered if it had been cleaned. He emphasized the risk to other children who commute to school alone and the necessity for a thorough investigation to prevent such incidents in the future. "Why should my child suffer in the fight between MCD and NDMC?" he lamented.

This incident is not isolated. Just days earlier, on August 1, a mother and her child tragically drowned after falling into a waterlogged drain in Ghazipur, East Delhi, following heavy rains. The victims, Tanuja (22) and her three-year-old son Priyansh were residents of Prakash Nagar Khoda Colony.

In another tragic event on July 27, three UPSC aspirants lost their lives due to flooding at an IAS coaching center in Old Rajinder Nagar. These incidents underscore the critical need for better infrastructure maintenance and immediate attention to public safety measures in Delhi.

As the city grapples with these recurring tragedies, the call for accountability and preventive action grows louder, emphasizing that such negligence cannot continue unchecked.