Date:20/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/20/stories/2007042019000500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Boy falls into drain near Kamakya, dies

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: An eight-year-old boy fell into a drain and died on the spot near Kamakya cinema in Banashankari III stage on Thursday.

Gopi and his six-year-old brother Naveen were playing near a storm water drain when the rubber ball they were playing with fell into the drain. When he was trying to retrieve the ball, Gopi slipped and fell into the drain.

On February 9, five-year-old Khader Basha had accidentally fell into a storm water drain that was being repaired by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) close to the same area, near Kamakya cinema.

This time while there was no work happening at the spot Gopi fell, East Coast Construction of India had taken up remodelling work of the Vrishabhavathi storm water drain, a few yards away.

After the incident, residents of the area protested against the BBMP's slow pace of work in remodelling the storm water drain.

They said that the palike had not put up any warning signs although many children played in the area. Senior police officials visited the area and pacified the residents.

The construction company paid Rs. 60,000 to parents and labourers Devika and Veeramani, said M.L. Munikrishna, Executive Engineer, BBMP. The Chennamannakere Achchukattu police have registered a case.

Engineers suspended

The BBMP has suspended two Assistant Executive Engineers Ravishankar and Wahab for dereliction of duty. While the construction company should have put up barricades and boards to alert the public about remodelling work, the engineers failed in ensuring that safety measures were implemented, a BBMP spokesperson said. Penal action will be taken up against the construction company.