Two boys drown in rain-filled pit in Delhi's Narela; DDA cites damaged wall
New Delhi: Two minor boys, aged nine and 11, drowned in a rainwater-filled pit in Delhi's Narela area on Thursday, police said. The children, both residents of Bawana, had entered the pit near 100 Foota, close to the DDA Flats in Narela, to play and swim when they drowned.
Following a distress call, police rushed to the spot. The children were pulled out of the pit and taken to Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra Hospital in Narela, where doctors declared them dead. Their bodies were sent for medico-legal proceedings, and legal action has been initiated, police said. The exact circumstances leading to the children entering the pit and the sequence of events preceding their drowning are being ascertained.
The incident occurred amid heavy monsoon activity in the national capital, with several parts of Delhi witnessing waterlogging and accumulation of rainwater. The water-filled pit, located on vacant land adjoining Housing Pocket-4 in Sector G7/G8, Narela, had become a potential hazard.
Following the incident, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) expressed regret over the deaths. In a statement, the agency said the vacant plot had been secured with a boundary wall to prevent unauthorised access, but portions of the wall had been repeatedly damaged despite repairs.
“Such incidents of damage, theft and unauthorised activities in the area have also been brought to the notice of the local police through complaints/FIRs and other communications from time to time,” the DDA said.
The agency added that it had repeatedly taken up security and law-and-order concerns in Sector G7/G8 with the Delhi Police. It said a flat in Pocket-4 had already been allotted for a police chowki, while two additional LIG flats had been offered for setting up a police camp office.
The DDA said it was extending all necessary cooperation to the police and other authorities and was examining further preventive measures, including strengthening the boundary wall and enhancing surveillance of vulnerable vacant plots in the area.
Local residents expressed grief and demanded action to secure such vacant plots, especially during the monsoon season when rainwater accumulates and creates dangerous conditions. Some pointed out that similar incidents have occurred in the past in various parts of the city, highlighting the need for proactive safety measures.
Experts and civic activists have repeatedly called for proper fencing, regular inspections, and swift filling of waterlogged pits on construction and vacant land. They also emphasized the need for public awareness campaigns to warn children and parents about such hazards.
Further investigation into the incident is under way, and police are recording statements of witnesses and family members. Authorities have assured that necessary steps will be taken to prevent recurrence of such tragedies.
The deaths have reignited the debate on urban safety during monsoon, as Delhi continues to grapple with waterlogging in low-lying areas. The district administration has been asked to identify similar danger spots and take immediate remedial action.
