A six-year-old boy died after falling into a 15-foot-deep water-filled pit at a residential complex in Greater Noida on Saturday. The excavation site lacked barricades or warning signs, drawing allegations of gross negligence from residents.
The Incident
The victim, Avyaan Surya, was playing cricket with friends at Kaladham Society, a colony for artists, when he accidentally fell into the pit around 7 pm. The pit had been dug by the Greater Noida Authority for boring work, reportedly without proper authorization.
Residents rushed to rescue the child and took him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. According to eyewitness Pranjal Rajput, a resident washing his car, a child ran to him shouting that a boy had fallen into a pit. Rajput saw a security guard preparing to enter the water.
Rescue Efforts
The guard jumped into the pit, followed by three to four residents. They searched for several minutes before locating the boy. After pulling him out, they attempted to revive him before rushing him to the hospital.
Residents expressed shock that such a deep pit existed within the society premises without any safety measures. They alleged that the absence of proper barricades and warning signs turned the excavation into a deadly hazard.
Father's Statement
The child's father, Siwan Yadav, an art teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya, said he and his wife—a nurse with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi—rushed outside after hearing commotion. They saw residents trying to rescue their son from the pit. Yadav alleged that no child could have escaped from such a deep pit. Holding authorities responsible, he said his son's life was lost because of negligence.
Authority's Response
AK Singh, General Manager of the Greater Noida Authority, stated that the excavation was undertaken without senior officials' knowledge. The authority had approved installation of a tubewell at a different location after residents complained about water supply issues. However, contractor Manoj Jain started work two days ago without informing the authority and failed to install adequate barricades. Only two bamboo poles had been placed around the pit, which Singh termed grave negligence.
Legal Action
The police arrested contractor Manoj Jain and registered a case against Greater Noida Authority supervisor Johnny and technical supervisor Akash Rajput. Further investigation is underway.
