NHRC Takes Notice of Child’s Death in Open Drain, Raises Concerns Over Civic Negligence in Delhi

The NHRC, in its observation, stated that if the reported facts are accurate, they point to a grave violation of the human rights of the victims due to negligence by public authorities.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report regarding the tragic death of a five-year-old boy who fell into an open drain in the Alipur area of North West Delhi on 7th October 2024. The incident reportedly occurred due to negligence by a contractor who left the drain open without warning signs. This is the fifth such fatal incident in the national capital in recent months, sparking widespread concern over the apparent lack of oversight by civic authorities.

The NHRC, in its observation, stated that if the reported facts are accurate, they point to a grave violation of the human rights of the victims due to negligence by public authorities. The Commission expressed serious concern that these accidents, which highlight the negligence of civic bodies, continue to claim innocent lives in Delhi. Previously, the NHRC had taken cognizance of multiple incidents involving drowning and electrocution in the city, calling on authorities to be more vigilant in preventing such tragedies.

In response, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, the Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). These officials have been directed to submit detailed reports within four weeks.

The report must include the status of FIRs filed in all related cases, actions taken against responsible officials, and details of any compensation paid to the victims' families. Furthermore, the NHRC seeks information on the preventive measures taken or proposed to avoid such incidents in the future.

The media report, published on 8th October 2024, highlighted a series of similar accidents across Delhi in recent months. Just earlier this month, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl fell into an open drain in Khajuri Khas, northeast Delhi, losing her life. In September, a 32-year-old man met a similar fate in Bhajanpura, northeast Delhi. In August, a seven-year-old boy was found dead in a drain in Ashok Vihar, and another man died after falling into a drain in Paschim Vihar. In July, the deaths of a woman and her son in east Delhi's Ghazipur caused widespread outcry, along with another fatality after a car fell into a drain in Burari.

The NHRC's intervention aims to hold civic bodies accountable and ensure stricter measures are in place to protect citizens from such recurring hazards. The issue of public safety continues to be a top priority as the Commission demands actionable steps to prevent further loss of life. 4o