Two-yr-old boy dies after falling into an open drain in Ghaziabad

Locals said that the drain is being re-constructed in order to broaden the NH-24. Victim's house is located adjacent to the highway and somehow he fell into the uncovered drain while playing outside his house.

According to a senior police officer, it is suspected that Shivam fell into the drain. "The locals informed us that the victim was playing near his house on Sunday evening but later went missing," officer said.

Two hours after he went missing, his body was found floating in the drain. He was taken to nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival, said police.

The boy's father, Omprakash, works as a labourer. Police said that they are yet to receive a written complaint in the matter.

Circle officer-I, Manisha Singh, said, "No FIR has been registered so far as we are yet to get a written complaint from the boy's family. The family was in deep sorrow so we didn't question the parents. But soon we will be questioning people to find out what actually happened. Meanwhile, an investigation in the case is underway."

Locals said that the drain is filled with water, muck and garbage to the brim and similar incidents have happened in the past when people have fallen in the drain but no one ever died.

"The drain is left uncovered and no security measures have been taken by the authority to avoid such mishappenings. We have been repeatedly asking the administration to cover the drain but nothing seems to be happening," said a local.

In earlier cases, people were rescued quickly after they fell into the drain. On Sunday morning also, a motorist was taken out from the drain by the locals after he accidentally fell into the same drain.

This is the third death reported this year from Ghaziabad, in which children have died after falling into open drains. In March, two children died in two days in Gulzar colony area, after falling into an open drain.