The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concerns over five fatal incidents involving open drains in the national capital reported over the past four months, including the recent death of a five-year-old boy in Alipur.  Other cases involved a 32-year-old man in Bhajanpura, a seven-year-old boy in Ashok Vihar, and fatalities in Ghazipur and Burari.

Taking serious view in the matter highlighting gross negligence by civic authorities the Apex human rights body on Thursday said that it has issued notices to the Delhi Government, the city police chief, the DDA and the MCD over reports that a five-year-old boy died allegedly after falling into an open drain in Alipur area of northwest Delhi on October 7.

The NHRC has observed the contents of the news report about death of the boy last week and noted that the contractor, who worked there, had reportedly left the drain open at various places without placing any warning signs, the statement by the NHRC said.

This case and similar incidents in the recent past, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victims due to apparent negligence of the civic authorities, said the rights body.

It is indeed very concerning that such incidents indicating negligence by the public authorities continue to happen in the national capital. Many human lives were reported lost due to drowning and electrocution in Delhi of which it had taken suo motu cognisance and asked the authorities to be vigilant, the rights panel said.

Accordingly, “it has issued notices to the chief secretary, government of Delhi, the commissioner of Delhi Police, the vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), seeking a detailed report within four weeks,” the statement said.

The report is expected to include the status of the FIRs in all such cases, action taken against officials responsible, and compensation, if any, paid to the next of kin of the deceased. The Commission would also like to know about the steps taken or proposed by the authorities to stop recurrence of such incidents, the statement said.

The NHRC emphasised the need for accountability and improved safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.