BWSSB neglect: Toddler pays price

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In a tragic turn of events, a two-and-a-half-yearold toddler drowned after falling into a pit dug by the city's water supply board near Gollarahatti in Magadi, an official said on Tuesday.

The pit was reportedly dug up by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for laying pipelines. The identity of the child could not be ascertained immediately. According to sources, the local authorities did not place any warning sign board at the spot and ignored safety measures resulting in the fatal incident.

Son of two labourers, Hamsa and Hanuman, the child allegedly wandered away from the house while his mother did not notice it. An FIR was registered against the BWSSB engineer and the contractor for negligence at work. There were no barricades around the pit, which led to the unfortunate incident. A first information report (FIR) has been registered against the BWSSB's engineer and contractor in the matter.

Unfortunately, such incidents keep happening in the city despite guidelines in place. Civic agencies in Bengaluru like the BWSSB have come under fire for similar incidents in the past, wherein they have been accused of shoddy work and negligence by residents.