Bengaluru Footpath Mishap: Child Falls into Open Drain, Sparks Safety Concerns
Videos of a class 1 student falling into a drain beneath an under-construction footpath in Bengaluru have surfaced, reigniting serious concerns about pedestrian safety during ongoing road and footpath projects across the city. The incident, which occurred earlier this week but came to light on Friday, highlights the dangers posed by incomplete infrastructure work in densely populated areas.
Incident Details and Official Response
The mishap took place at Govindapura in north Bengaluru, where the young boy escaped without any injuries. Bengaluru North city corporation commissioner Pommala Sunil Kumar confirmed that the incident happened on February 2 during construction activities under the B-Smile initiative, part of a high-density corridor project. Kumar expressed regret, stating, "The incident did not come to our notice earlier, which is not a good thing. While the footpath has since been covered, that does not give any scope for leaving footpaths open in a dangerous manner, especially in areas with heavy public movement."
He explained that concretisation on the stretch was nearly complete, and footpath construction was in progress when the child slipped into the gap. Videos captured by local residents depicted a partially laid footpath with missing slabs and water flowing through the open drain below. In the footage, the boy was seen waist-deep in the drain, his school uniform soaked, before passers-by quickly pulled him to safety.
Local Claims and Immediate Actions
Residents in the area claimed this was not an isolated incident. One local asserted, "Three people fell at the same spot, including an elderly person and a pregnant woman," suggesting a pattern of negligence at the location. Following the recent mishap, engineers took swift action by concreting portions of the footpath and creating a narrow temporary walkway specifically for schoolchildren to use, aiming to prevent further accidents.
This event underscores the urgent need for stricter safety protocols and better oversight in urban infrastructure projects to protect pedestrians, particularly vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.
