A tragic incident occurred in Meerut on Sunday evening when a 12-year-old boy drowned in a swimming pool that was allegedly operating illegally and without safety measures. The victim, Mohd Aakil, a resident of Mohalla Tarapuri in Lisadi Gate, had visited the Waterland Swimming Pool with his friends around 5 pm. His friends left without noticing his absence, assuming he had returned home. The body was discovered only at 8:15 pm when the pool was drained at closing time.
Details of the Incident
Aakil was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival and informed the police. The pool co-owner, Mohd Yasir, and operator, Mohd Wasim, a resident of Shyamnagar, have been taken into custody. Officials confirmed that no lifeguard or medical staff were present at the pool during the incident. The facility, owned by Yasir and Wasid of Jatav Gate under Kotwali police station, had been leased to Wasim on a contract basis.
Previous Incident at Same Pool
This tragedy has reignited concerns over lax enforcement of safety regulations, as the same pool was sealed eight years ago after a 15-year-old drowned under similar circumstances. The pool had been operating despite the earlier incident, raising questions about regulatory oversight.
SP (City) Vinayak Bhonsle stated that a detailed investigation is underway. “No formal complaint has been received yet. We are examining all aspects of the case,” he said. Aakil’s father works as a painter.
Recent Drowning in Hapur
This incident comes just days after another drowning on April 26, when 36-year-old Ashish Singhal, a dry fruit trader from Pilkhuwa, died in a swimming pool in Hapur’s Kotwali area while visiting with family and friends. The back-to-back incidents highlight the urgent need for stricter safety measures at swimming facilities across the region.
