In a tragic incident highlighting safety lapses, an eight-year-old boy drowned in a deep pit near a brick kiln in Sambhal district's Milak Dhureta village. The event has led to police action against the kiln owner and two associates for alleged negligence, underscoring ongoing concerns about such hazards in Uttar Pradesh.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The victim, identified as Priyanshu, was the son of Rohtas Singh, a labourer working at the brick kiln. The family, including Singh's wife Savita Devi and their two children, resided in a makeshift shack close to the kiln premises. On Wednesday evening, around 6 pm, Priyanshu went missing while playing near their home.
Search and Discovery
After an intensive search lasting nearly 90 minutes, the boy was found lifeless in a 12-foot-deep pit that had been filled with rainwater. The pit was reportedly excavated earlier that same day using an earthmover to extract raw materials for the brick kiln's operations. Hayatnagar police station SHO Umesh Solanki confirmed that rainfall had rapidly filled the pit, creating a deadly hazard.
Police Action and Legal Proceedings
Based on a complaint filed by the boy's father, Rohtas Singh, who alleged that no safety measures were implemented around the pit, police have registered an FIR. The case targets kiln owner Mahesh Kumar from Barwali village, along with his partners, former pradhan Paltu and Noor Hasan.
The charges have been filed under BNS section 106(1), which pertains to causing death by negligence. SHO Umesh Solanki stated that further investigation is currently underway to determine the full extent of responsibility and any potential violations of safety protocols.
Broader Context and Similar Incidents
This unfortunate event is not an isolated case in Uttar Pradesh. It adds to a disturbing pattern of child fatalities involving pits dug by brick kiln owners, which often become death traps during the monsoon season.
- Earlier this month, a three-year-old child drowned in a rain-filled pit in Hathras's Sandalpur village.
- During the 2023 monsoon, eight children lost their lives in two separate incidents in Hardoi and Amroha districts under similar circumstances.
These repeated tragedies raise serious questions about enforcement of safety regulations and preventive measures at industrial sites, particularly those involving excavation work near residential areas.
The incident in Sambhal serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for stricter oversight and community awareness to prevent such avoidable losses of young lives in the future.
