Body of boy who drowned in drain in Delhi while playing recovered

The body of a seven-year-old boy, who fell into an open drain in north-west Delhi’s Welcome a day earlier, was recovered on Saturday, the police said.

A senior officer said they received a PCR call from residents of the area on Friday evening about a boy, whose identity has not been disclosed, falling into an open drain while trying to catch a kite.

“A team was rushed to the spot, near Lakdi Market Puliya. The DDMA (Delhi Disaster Management Authority) was informed and a search-and-rescue operation was initiated,” the officer said.

He added, “However, the rescue work had to be suspended at night due to poor visibility.”

The operation resumed on Saturday morning and the body was recovered from the drain. It has been sent to GTB Hospital for post-mortem, said the officer. “All possible assistance is being provided to the bereaved family. Further investigation is under way,” the officer added.

The Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over rain-related deaths in the city.

AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a post on X, “Another child died in a drain. It seems that there is no government in Delhi. Children are dying by falling into drains and sewers, but no one is being held accountable. No action is being taken against anyone. The Delhi government is just covering up every accident.”

He alleged that over 30 lives had been lost in the city due to the “negligence of the BJP government”.

More rain likely

Meanwhile, parts of the Capital received light rain on Saturday. More rain is likely in the coming days.

The water level of the Yamuna river at Delhi’s Old Railway Bridge was recorded at 205.12 metres around 7 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Central Water Commission.

The ‘danger mark’ is 205.33 metres. The river had breached the ‘warning level’ of 204.5 metres on Friday. The level is likely to drop to 205 metres by 8 a.m. on Sunday.