A four-year-old child who fell into an open sewer near Kheri Baba Bridge in Nangli Vihar Extension, west Delhi, was found dead after a 24-hour search operation involving the Delhi Police, fire brigade, local divers and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The recovery has renewed concern over uncovered sewer and drain infrastructure in residential areas.
According to police officials cited by Live Hindustan – NCR, the child fell into the sewer while playing at around 3:21 pm on Tuesday. The Runhola police station received information about the incident, after which rescue teams began searching the sewer and connected drain network.
The teams followed the route through the drain and sewer line towards the sewage treatment plant at Nilothi in Nihal Vihar. The child’s remains were recovered from the plant after the search continued for approximately 24 hours. Police said the remains were found in multiple pieces and were sent to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital for post-mortem examination and DNA testing.
Police have not treated the identity as conclusively established until the DNA examination is completed. The remains were reportedly damaged after passing through machinery used to screen and treat sewage at the plant, according to the account cited in the report.
A first information report has been registered against unidentified persons under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relates to causing death by negligence. The police investigation is continuing. The case places attention on the chain of responsibility between local access control, sewer infrastructure management, emergency response and the operation of sewage treatment facilities.
A Delhi government official said Delhi Jal Board officials inspected the site and found that an interceptor sewer line passed beneath the enclosed boundary of the Najafgarh drain. The official alleged that some miscreants and anti-social elements had damaged the cover over the drain. The claim has not been independently established in the supplied report. The official also said entry into the area had already been restricted by the police administration because of other illegal activities reported there.
The incident occurred in a residential locality where residents gathered with the child’s family during the rescue operation. Local people expressed anger and concern over open drains and uncovered sewers near inhabited areas. While the police case will examine negligence and the circumstances leading to the fall, the incident also raises immediate questions about whether restricted infrastructure corridors are adequately secured and inspected.
The authorities are expected to submit a detailed report on the incident. The post-mortem examination, DNA testing and the continuing police investigation will determine the child’s identity and establish the circumstances surrounding the sewer opening and the fatal fall.
