A tragic incident in Pune has resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy, highlighting severe lapses in construction site safety. The boy fell through an unprotected duct on the terrace of an under-construction building in Ambegaon Khurd.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The victim has been identified as Shlok Nitin Bandal, a resident of the Swara Classic building in Siddhivinayak Society. The incident occurred on Thursday evening. According to police reports, Bandal had gone to the terrace of the nearby Sneh Sparsha Heights, a six-storey building, to fly kites.
While on the terrace, he slipped and fell down a duct located near the staircase. A critical safety failure was the complete absence of any railing, barricading, or fencing around the open duct, which directly led to the fatal accident.
Police Action and Builder Negligence
Assistant Police Inspector Bhojling Dodmise, the investigation officer, provided crucial context. He stated that while Sneha Sparsha Heights is still under construction, people are already residing on floors up to the fifth level. Construction work on the sixth floor was reportedly incomplete at the time.
Following the incident, a team from the Ambegaon police station rushed to the spot. On Friday, the police took formal action by lodging a First Information Report (FIR) against the builders of Sneh Sparsha Heights.
The builders have been booked under sections 106 (1) and 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for causing death by negligence. "No arrest has been made yet. Investigation is on," confirmed API Dodmise.
Broader Implications for Safety Standards
This heartbreaking event raises serious questions about safety protocols at residential construction sites, especially those partially occupied. The lack of basic protective measures around obvious hazards like open ducts represents a gross violation of duty of care.
The police's swift application of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections indicates a serious approach to the case. The investigation will now focus on establishing the chain of responsibility and the specific safety lapses that contributed to this preventable loss of a young life.
The community in Ambegaon Khurd has been left in shock, mourning the untimely death of the young boy. The case serves as a stark reminder for builders, contractors, and civic authorities to enforce stringent safety measures at all construction sites to prevent such tragedies in the future.
