NAGPUR: A 12-year-old boy died after falling into a water-logged pit dug for the construction of an underpass by the railways near Dipti Signal, an official from NMC’s fire and emergency services department told TOI.
Pruthvi Dhaniram Markhande drowned in the pit near Vairagad Wadi, Durgamata Chowk, near Sai Mandir, at 6.55pm on Thursday while he was playing with a friend near it, said the official.
Senior police inspector from Kalamna police station V Patil said they will file a case of accidental death. Preliminary investigations and statements of nearby residents revealed that the said land belongs to the railways.
MahaRail (Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation) is constructing underbridges and overbridges across Maharashtra, and this underpass was also part of the state project, said sources. South East Central Railway (SECR) officials said though the underpass is being constructed on Nagpur-Howrah route, they are not constructing it.
MahaRail officials refused to comment, saying it was not their part of the project.
The approximately 50x300 ft pit was excavated to construct an underpass below the railway tracks. However, due to disputes, the work was stalled some one-and-a-half year ago. The heavy rain of the past few days had filled it with water.
The open pit posed a threat to residents, especially kids of nearby slums and residential areas. Though this was brought to the notice of railways, no preventive measures like barricading or covering it had been initiated, said locals.
Angry residents said that none of the agencies took precautionary measures. “Even Nagpur city police and traffic police never take action against such negligent agencies, resulting in loss of life of common citizens,” said residents.
While playing near the pit on Thursday evening, Pruthvi slipped and fell into it. His friends alerted his parents and nearby residents. The fire department too was informed. Firemen from Kalamna, Sugat Nagar, Lakadganj, Ganjipeth and Sakkardara fire stations took part in the search for the 12-year-old boy in the pit.
It took almost 45 minutes to trace Pruthvi. Newly recruited fireman Shrikrishna Narvate dived in and fetched the body from the 20ft deep pond, said chief fire officer Rajendra Uchake. The search was monitored by station officer Anil Gole and deputy chief fire officer BP Chandankhede.
