A seven-year-old boy, Nikunj Chaudhary, sustained serious head injuries after a large piece of plaster fell from a second-floor balcony at BPTP Amstoria housing society in Sector 102, Gurugram. The incident occurred while the child was playing near flat A-31 on the ground floor. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where his condition is reported to be stable.
Residents Allege Substandard Materials
The incident has triggered outrage among residents, who claim the builder used substandard construction materials, leading to repeated safety hazards. Residents say they pay over ₹60,000 annually in maintenance charges, including ₹15,000 every three months, yet their safety concerns remain ignored. They allege that repeated complaints about crumbling plaster on balconies and walls have been dismissed by both the builder and the maintenance agency. The collapse caused panic across the society, and the boy’s parents are now preparing to file a police complaint against the builder and the maintenance agency, holding them responsible.
Structural Audits Never Conducted
The incident has renewed concerns over the administration’s failure to enforce structural safety measures. Former Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav had earlier directed structural audits of housing societies to prevent such accidents. However, residents allege the proposed audits were never carried out, leaving societies like BPTP Amstoria exposed to the same structural defects the exercise was meant to identify and rectify.
Builder’s Response
Reacting to the incident, Shyam Sunder, Managing Director of BPMS, said, “We are deeply concerned about the unfortunate incident and wish the child a speedy recovery. The individual units were handed over to homeowners more than five years ago, and the project is currently maintained by JLL. Residents have been advised not to place flower pots on balcony edges. The RWA has also been requested to ensure periodic repair of balcony plaster and painting, as these are outside the scope of CAM maintenance. The matter is being examined and all necessary support is being extended.”
