A two-year-old girl lost her life after falling into an open drain in the Phulwarisharif area on Saturday, prompting widespread outrage over alleged civic negligence.
The child, identified as Khadija, was playing outside her home in the Isapur locality under Ward 24 when she reportedly slipped and fell into the uncovered drain. According to police, excessive silt inside the drain caused her to become stuck at one spot.
CCTV reveals tragic accident
Initially, the family suspected abduction when the toddler went missing. Her father, Saddam Hussain, said the family searched the neighbourhood extensively before alerting the Dial 112 emergency service.
“When she was not found, we informed the police. Later, CCTV footage showed that she had fallen into the drain,” he said.
Police personnel examined footage from nearby cameras, which confirmed that the child had accidentally slipped into the drain. After nearly two hours of searching, she was pulled out and rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, where doctors declared her dead.
Residents allege civic negligence
Local residents blamed the Phulwari Sharif Municipal Council for failing to cover open drains despite repeated complaints. Several drains in the locality reportedly remain uncovered and lack basic safety measures.
A neighbour alleged that the tragedy reflected serious negligence and demanded compensation for the grieving family. Residents also called for immediate inspection of all drains and accountability for lapses.
Municipal Council Executive Officer Deepak Jha stated that orders had been issued to inspect drains across all wards. Station House Officer Ghulam Shahwaz Alam confirmed that the body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem at AIIMS-Patna.
The heartbreaking incident has reignited concerns over public safety and infrastructure maintenance in residential neighbourhoods, with citizens urging authorities to act swiftly to prevent further loss of innocent lives.