A tragic incident unfolded in Rajendra Nagar Extension on Friday afternoon when 13-year-old Vikas fell into an open drain and drowned. The drain, filled with thick sludge and garbage, had not been cleaned for months, according to local residents. The area, which connects unauthorized colonies and urban village areas, is known for its foul-smelling, murky water.
Despite attempts by locals to rescue the boy, including using sticks to gauge the drain’s depth, they were unable to pull him out. Fire services arrived almost an hour later, but by then, it was too late. Vikas, a Class VI student at Sanskriti Public School, lived nearby in Nangloi Extension and had been residing in the area for only three months. His family has since traveled to Bhiwani, Haryana, for the last rites.
The community is now demanding that local authorities take immediate action to prevent such incidents in the future. Residents have been urging for the installation of safety barriers and regular cleaning of the drains. They also called for greater accountability from the government to improve the area’s infrastructure, as the drain in question is managed by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, not the Public Works Department, as initially claimed by the police.
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