A tragic incident near the Bundelkhand Expressway in Etawah claimed the life of a three-year-old boy on Friday evening. The child, identified as Arpit, fell into an open toilet tank and drowned, highlighting a grave lapse in safety measures.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The accident occurred late on Friday near channel number 289 at Kudrail, close to the Bundelkhand Expressway toll plaza. Arpit, the son of sanitation worker Vijay, was playing when he strayed near the deep, uncovered tank. According to his father, the boy was chasing a puppy and accidentally fell into the approximately 8-feet-deep structure.
When Arpit did not return, his parents began a frantic search. Using a torchlight, they discovered him at the bottom of the tank. They immediately alerted officials from the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) and made desperate attempts to rescue him. After significant effort, the body was retrieved from the tank.
Official Negligence and Failed Warnings
The tank, built behind a toilet facility, had been left open and unprotected since the expressway became operational. Toll plaza manager Dhirendra Singh stated that the construction company, DBL, was notified several times to cover the hazardous tank but failed to act. "They were notified several times to cover the tank but they did not do the needful," Singh confirmed. He added that another letter would be issued and the tank would finally be sealed.
The family, natives of Gangapurbaras, Madhukarpur in Rae Bareli, lived in a residence adjacent to the toilet facility. Following the rescue, the child was taken to CHC Bharthana, where doctors declared him dead.
A Call for Accountability and Safety
This heartbreaking event underscores a critical failure in infrastructure safety and maintenance. The open tank, a clear danger, was left unaddressed despite warnings, leading to an avoidable loss of a young life. The incident raises serious questions about the accountability of contractors and the oversight mechanisms for public infrastructure projects like the Bundelkhand Expressway.
The community and authorities are now left mourning a preventable tragedy, emphasizing the urgent need for stringent safety protocols to protect vulnerable citizens, especially children living near construction sites and highways.
