Nagpur Toddler's Body Recovered from Sewage Drain After Frantic 24-Hour Search
Nagpur: In a heartbreaking incident, the body of a three-year-old boy who went missing from Mehboob Nagar in north Nagpur was discovered stuck in stagnant sewage water in a nullah under a bridge in Sangharsh Nagar on Saturday. The tragic discovery came after an intensive 24-hour search operation involving family, locals, and police authorities.
Disappearance During Vacation Visit
The toddler, identified as Mohammad Konan Ansari, had been visiting his maternal uncle's residence on a three-day vacation. He was last seen playing with his elder cousin near his uncle's home on Friday evening. When the young boy failed to return home as evening approached, concerned family members and neighbors immediately launched a frantic search throughout the neighborhood.
Police Mobilization and CCTV Breakthrough
By 6:30 PM on Friday, worried relatives approached the Yashodhara Nagar police station to formally report the missing child. Police authorities swiftly responded by forming multiple search teams and initiating a thorough examination of CCTV footage from the surrounding area.
The surveillance footage proved instrumental in narrowing down the search parameters. One crucial clip captured at 5:16 PM showed both Konan and his cousin playfully moving toward the road. However, in subsequent footage, only the elder cousin appeared returning home alone—the three-year-old was conspicuously absent from view.
Search Focuses on Nearby Drainage
This visual evidence confirmed that Konan had disappeared somewhere between the two CCTV locations. Investigators began suspecting the child might have accidentally fallen into a nearby nullah while playing. The search efforts consequently concentrated on the drainage system in the vicinity.
Senior Inspector Sandeep Buwa of Yashodhara Nagar police station explained the challenges faced during the initial search: "Due to darkness, heavy muck, and filth, the nullah beneath the bridge could not be thoroughly searched at night." The operation was temporarily halted and resumed early Saturday morning with renewed determination.
False Lead and Tragic Discovery
During the search operation, police received a hoax call claiming a child resembling Konan had been spotted at Wanjara Layout, several kilometers away. "Police rushed to verify this information, but it unfortunately turned out to be false," stated Senior PI Buwa.
Undeterred by the misleading information, search teams intensified their efforts under the bridge. Around 5 PM on Saturday, their persistence led to the grim discovery—the boy's body was found stuck in the muck inside the nullah. The body was carefully retrieved and transported to Mayo Hospital for an autopsy scheduled for Sunday.
Police Investigation and Sensitive Approach
Police have registered the case as an accidental death. Preliminary investigations indicate the boy likely slipped and fell into the nullah while playing with his cousin, who subsequently returned home alone and went straight to bed without immediately raising an alarm.
Senior Inspector Buwa noted that police believe the cousin may have witnessed or possesses details about how the tragic fall occurred. However, considering the family's profound grief and emotional state, authorities plan to approach the situation with utmost sensitivity. Police intend to question the cousin carefully after allowing a few days for the family to process their loss, aiming to reconstruct the exact sequence of events that led to this tragedy.
The devastating incident has cast a pall of gloom over the entire area. Konan's father, Imran Ansari, a handloom worker, has been particularly devastated by the loss of his young son. The community continues to mourn this preventable tragedy that has highlighted the dangers posed by open drainage systems in residential areas.
