Six-Year-Old Boy Drowns in Unbarricaded Pit at Noida Housing Complex; Contractor Arrested
A six-year-old boy drowned in a 15-foot-deep pit at the Kaladham Society in Greater Noida on Saturday, sparking allegations of negligence as the pit lacked proper barricades or warning signs. The boy, Avyaan Surya, was playing cricket with friends when he fell into the water-filled pit, which had been dug by the Greater Noida Authority for boring work.
Eyewitness Pranjal Rajput said the incident occurred around 7 pm. After being alerted by a child, he rushed to the site and found a security guard who jumped into the pit to rescue the boy. Rajput and other residents joined the rescue efforts but could only locate the child after five minutes. He was pulled out and rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Avyaan’s father, Siwan Yadav, an art teacher at a Kendriya Vidyalaya, expressed his grief, saying, “No child could have swum out of that pit. It’s unfair that his life was lost because of the negligence of the authorities.” He and his wife, a nurse, were inconsolable.
Greater Noida Authority General Manager AK Singh said the pit was dug without the knowledge of senior officials. The work, approved for installing a tube well to address water supply issues, was meant to be done in a nearby location. Singh blamed the contractor for failing to place adequate barricades, stating that only two bamboo poles were used. He termed it a “very tragic incident” and confirmed that the contractor, Manoj Jain, has been arrested. Cases have also been registered against the authority’s supervisor, Johnny, and technical supervisor, Akash Rajput.
Kaladham Society General Secretary Devendra Shukla noted that residents had been demanding a borewell due to low water pressure. The work began two days ago without proper safety measures, he added. “Barricading should have been placed before digging the pit,” Shukla said.
The incident highlights critical lapses in safety protocols during construction work in residential areas, raising questions about accountability and oversight by local authorities.
