A 16-year-old boy lost his life after falling more than 60 feet from the skylight of a derelict shopping mall in north Delhi’s Model Town on Sunday evening. Police said the teenager was reportedly filming content for social media with his classmates at the time of the incident. An investigation has been launched following allegations of foul play by the family.
The victim, identified as Kavin Kumar, was a Class 11 student at a private school in Ashok Vihar. According to investigators, he had gone to the long-shuttered North Gate mall — closed since 2012 — with three friends to spend time and record videos. The incident was reported to the Model Town police station at around 5.51 pm.
How the incident unfolded
A senior police officer said the group accessed the four-storey building using the staircase and reached the top floor. “Kavin reportedly climbed onto a fibreglass shed installed as a gallery cover between shops. The shed gave way, causing him to fall to the ground,” the officer said.
Kavin sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Another investigator said preliminary inquiries suggest the teenagers were recording short videos to post as reels on social media platforms. The classmates present at the scene have been questioned and reportedly showed police videos taken moments before the accident.
Family raises serious concerns
The boy’s family, however, has questioned the circumstances leading to the fall. His paternal uncle, Sudhir Kumar, said Kavin left home around 5.30 pm after telling his mother he was going to play billiards nearby. “Half an hour later, his mother received a call from a friend’s mother. That friend was not with Kavin at the time,” he said.
The family expressed distress that the classmates present did not immediately inform them. Another uncle, Munit Kumar, suggested the possibility of a dare, alleging that Kavin may have been challenged to walk on the shed. The family has also questioned how minors were able to enter a building that has remained closed for over a decade.
Police investigation continues
Police confirmed that all angles, including the family’s allegations, are being examined. Inquest proceedings have been initiated to establish the exact sequence of events.
Kavin is survived by his father Rahul, who runs an export business, his mother Parul, and a 21-year-old sister studying in Canada. Relatives described him as a bright and health-conscious student who was excited about a family dinner planned for Sunday and eagerly awaiting his sister’s return on December 31.