5-year-old boy drowns in Gurugram society pool

Sumedha Sharma

Gurugram, July 25

In an incident that brought the safety of swimming pools in posh Gurugram condominiums under scrutiny, a five-year-old boy drowned in a pool at a club in a Sector 37 society here on Wednesday evening. The police have arrested two trainers-cum-lifeguards who were allegedly busy on their phones when the child moved from the children’s pool to the adult pool and drowned.

The deceased has been identified as Mivansh Singla. The CCTV footage showed his body floating for several minutes before a lifeguard retrieved it. None of the lifeguards made any attempts to resuscitate him as they were not trained. One had joined just 10 days ago, while the other had been employed for only two days. Residents also claimed that the boy’s life jacket was too loose. The boy was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead.

Inquiry initiated

• The lifeguards didn’t make any attempt to resuscitate the boy as they were not trained
• One had joined just 10 days ago, while the other had been employed for only two days.
• Residents claimed that the boy’s life jacket was too loose.
• The Gurugram administration has initiated an inquiry into the matter, ordered a survey of all such pools and mandated the employment of trained lifeguards.

The incident took place at BPTP Park Serene Society late on Wednesday evening. The family claimed that the boy had gone with his grandmother and was in the children’s pool when she left him for a few minutes to get something from her flat.

“These trainers or lifeguards are supposed to keep an eye on all swimmers, especially children, and take care of them. They were negligent even as the boy went to the deeper pool. My grandson died due to the negligence of lifeguards, security guards, the security supervisor, the swimming pool operator and the company management. They will have to pay,” said the aggrieved grandfather.

Society residents joined him in protest on Wednesday night against the private firm responsible for the society’s security and pool safety. They alleged that untrained professionals were hired as lifeguards despite the hefty maintenance fees paid monthly.

The Gurugram administration has initiated an inquiry into the matter, ordered a survey of all such pools in the city and mandated the employment of trained lifeguards. Pool authorities have been directed to prohibit employees from using their phones during duty hours. Many Resident Welfare Associations have already issued orders in this regard.

The police, after registering an FIR under Section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the BNS, have arrested two accused. “The arrested have been identified as 30-year-old Durg and 21-year-old Akash. Durg joined the club 10 days before the incident, and Akash just two days ago,” said a spokesperson for the Gurugram police.

“It is a tragic incident. We have initiated an inquiry against the pool management company. We have outlined detailed pool safety standard operating procedures, and every society must follow them, failing which they will be penalised,” said DC Nishant Yadav.