NHRC notices to Commissioner, SDMC and DCP, South West Delhi over reports of drowning of a boy in a Municipal school (01.2.2016)

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 1st February, 2016

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a 4-5 year old boy, Ankit, died after falling in an open septic tank at a school run by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation in Kapashera, Delhi on the 27th January, 2016.

The Commission, expressing serious concern over the negligence on the part of school administration, has issued notices to the Commissioner, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West), Delhi calling for detailed reports in the matter within four weeks.

Reportedly, Ankit fell in the open septic tank around 11:30 a.m. while playing with his friends in the school premises. He screamed for help. A labourer, Ram Singh, who was working at a nearby under construction building, came forward and jumped inside the tank and managed to bring out Ankit. He was taken to Columbia Asia Hospital in Gurgaon where the doctors declared that he was brought dead. The boy's family, police and civic body were not immediately informed about the incident and the call to the Police Control Room was made around 01:30 p.m. almost two hours after the incident.

*****