Parents Petition for Safety Rules in Gated Community Parks After Electrocution

COIMBATORE: On May 23, Vyoma Priya (8) and Jiyans Reddy (4) were electrocuted while playing in a park at Raman Vihar, an Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) property near Saravanampatti. Their parents, T Balachander and Archana Sivaramakrishnan, have petitioned the state government to implement stringent safety regulations for certifying children’s parks in gated communities. The Saravanampatti police are investigating the incident.

Archana Sivaramakrishnan explained to TNIE that parks in gated communities fall into two categories: those on OSR land, monitored by local authorities, and those on private land, like the park where their daughter died. They have petitioned the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department to ensure all parks are certified based on safety norms to prevent future tragedies.

Despite advisories from Tantransco and the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, Balachander and Archana are actively raising awareness through social media. They released a one-minute video titled “4 Steps to Keep Your Children Safe in Your Children’s Park,” emphasizing simple safety measures.

Archana mentioned a similar accident in 2022 near Vadavalli, underscoring the need for rigorous safety standards. “We hope our loss will be the last due to negligence, and no other child will suffer in the future. Parks should provide a safe environment for children to enjoy,” she said.