A tragic incident occurred in Jamner, Jalgaon district, on Sunday evening, where a five-year-old boy drowned in an uncovered chamber at a local swimming pool. The child, who had accompanied his father, Ganesh Patil, to the pool, allegedly wandered into a manhole-like chamber located just 10 to 15 feet from the swimming pool around 6 pm.
Incident Details
According to Jamner police, Patil had gone to the changing room after finishing his swim, leaving the child behind. During this brief period, the boy is believed to have moved towards the chamber, where he fell in and drowned. Inspector Murlidhar Kasar stated, "When the father returned, he found that the child had gone missing. This prompted a frantic search by his father and others present at the pool. The boy was finally located nearly an hour later, submerged in the chamber."
The child was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead. The police have registered a case of accidental death, though they have indicated that action will be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence after the investigation is complete. The body was taken to the boy's native place on Monday for last rites.
Municipal Council Response
Nitin Bagul, the chief officer of Jamner Municipal Council, confirmed that the swimming pool's operations were outsourced to a contractor in June last year. He said, "We have sought a report from the contractor to whom the operation of the swimming pool has been outsourced. The death took place in the balancing tank where the water for the swimming pool is reserved." Bagul added, "Apart from the security guards, lifeguards and the coach, the boy's parents were also present at the facility at the time. The father went to change alone. The report from the contractor, along with the CCTV footage, will clarify the sequence of events at the swimming pool."
The police noted that the exact sequence of events will become clearer after recording the father's statement. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to determine any lapses in safety measures.
