Delhi Drain Tragedy: Uncovered Pit Claims Lives of Young Mother and Son, Family Devastated
In a heartbreaking incident that underscores severe negligence in public infrastructure, a 23-year-old homemaker and her three-year-old son lost their lives after falling into a partially constructed drain in east Delhi's Ghazipur area. The tragedy occurred on July 31, 2024, when Tanuja and her son Priyansh were on their way to a weekly market, only to meet a fatal end due to an uncovered and unmarked drain.
Details of the Fatal Accident
Eyewitnesses reported that waterlogging in the area made it nearly impossible to spot the 15-foot deep and six-foot wide drain located near the CNG pump in Ghazipur paper market. The mother and son fell into the drain around 7:30 PM, and despite efforts by local residents, their bodies were retrieved only around 11:30 PM. The incident has left the family shattered, with Tanuja's husband, Govind Singh Bisht, traumatized and forced to leave Delhi for his ancestral home in Uttarakhand.
Family's Struggle and Compensation
Bisht, who previously worked in a laboratory, expressed his profound grief, stating that there was nothing left for him in Delhi after losing his entire family to what he calls sheer negligence. "I lost my wife and only son. So I returned to my ancestral place. Here, I do petty work and am planning to open a small shop," he shared. The family had moved from Uttarakhand to Delhi's Khoda Colony in Ghaziabad four years ago in search of better employment opportunities.
Despite receiving Rs 20 lakh as compensation, Bisht emphasized that monetary relief cannot replace the loss of his loved ones. He stressed that it is the authority's responsibility to ensure public safety and prevent such tragedies. "I only want the authorities to address such negligence so that no other family has to suffer the way I am suffering," he added.
Ongoing Negligence and Legal Actions
Shockingly, one and a half years after the incident, a visit to the site on January 23 and again on January 31 revealed that the drain remains uncovered, with no warning signs installed. This persistent lack of action highlights a systemic failure in addressing public safety hazards.
Police have registered a case under Section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. An officer confirmed that about seven to eight individuals responsible for the drain were held accountable, a chargesheet was filed, and the family received compensation while the trial is still ongoing.
Eyewitness Accounts and Near Misses
Narender, a relative of the victims, revealed that his wife and child were accompanying Tanuja and Priyansh to the market. "My daughter was with them. Her slipper came off, so she went back to pick it up, and that's when the incident happened," he recounted. He added that his wife had bravely jumped into the drain in an attempt to save Tanuja and Priyansh but was pulled out by bystanders, narrowly escaping the same fate.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved infrastructure and safety measures in urban areas to prevent such avoidable deaths.
