India, July 27 -- The Greater Noida Authority on Sunday dismissed two officials, blacklisted a contractor and ordered criminal action after a six-year-old boy drowned in a water-filled pit dug for a tubewell project in Knowledge Park II. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated into the incident. The victim, Avvaan Surya, son of Sivan Yadav, died on Saturday evening after falling into the excavation near Kaladham Society. According to residents, the child was playing with other children at around 7 pm when he entered the pit to retrieve a stick. He allegedly slipped into the water-filled excavation and could not be rescued in time. He was taken to Yatharth Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The incident triggered protests by residents, who alleged that the excavation had been left uncovered and without barricades or warning signs despite posing a serious safety risk. Greater Noida Authority CEO Ravi Kumar NG said a preliminary inquiry found that the contractor had begun the tubewell work without putting mandatory safety measures in place. "The contractor has been blacklisted and directions have been issued to register an FIR against him. No construction work can be carried out without ensuring proper safety arrangements," he said. The inquiry also found lapses within the Authority's Water Department. "Technical Supervisor Akash Kumar and Supervisor Johny Kumar have been dismissed from service for negligence and failure to discharge their responsibilities. A departmental inquiry has also been ordered to fix accountability," Ravi Kumar said.
The probe will be conducted by General Manager (Projects) A.K. Singh. Following the tragedy, the Authority has directed all engineering and project divisions to ensure proper barricading, warning signage and other safety measures at construction sites before work begins. "The excavation for the tubewell had started only three days ago. The contractor allegedly began the work without informing senior officers of the Water Department. Strict action will be taken against both contractors and officials wherever safety norms are violated," the CEO added. SDM Sadar Ashutosh Gupta also visited the site. "A detailed report is being prepared and will be submitted to senior authorities. All aspects of the incident are being examined," he said.
Meanwhile, police arrested three people in connection with the case on Sunday, including the contractor executing the tubewell project and two Greater Noida Authority Water Department employees. DCP (Greater Noida) Ravi Shankar Nim said an FIR had been registered at Knowledge Park police station under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 125 (act endangering life or personal safety) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The accused were identified as contractor Manoj Jain (53), technical supervisor Akash Kumar (26) and supervisor Anuj Kumar (35). "Our investigation found there were no barricades, warning signboards or other mandatory safety measures around the excavation site, indicating clear negligence," the DCP said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.