Eight-year-old falls into manhole covered with cardboard, rescued

Anshita Mehra
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 3
An eight-year-old boy’s morning routine turned into a nightmare in Delhi’s Defence Colony on Friday. After being dropped off at school by his father, the child accidentally stepped onto a manhole that was precariously covered with a flimsy piece of cardboard. The makeshift cover collapsed, and the boy fell into the sewer.

MLA blames residents
The issue is not with the civic bodies but with the residents who have built structures above the sewer. The responsibility lies with them, not the Municipal Corporation. — Madan Lal, local MLA

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Fortunately, quick thinking by his father and nearby bystanders averted what could have been a tragic accident. The boy was swiftly rescued from the sewer, but the incident has highlighted the ongoing risks posed by inadequate urban infrastructure.
“My child fell into the sewer because the cardboard was not strong enough,” recounts Ajeet Singh, the boy’s father. “If it had rained, the sewer would have overflowed. Thankfully, we were able to get him out quickly, but what if other children had fallen in? There needs to be a thorough investigation,” he added.
Singh’s ordeal echoes a recent tragedy in Ghazipur, East Delhi, where a woman and her three-year-old son lost their lives after falling into a waterlogged drain following heavy rains. These incidents highlight the stark dangers posed by uncovered manholes, particularly during the monsoon when waterlogging obscures these hazards.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) presents a stark reality: in India, one person dies every 12 hours from falls into open pits and manholes. In Delhi alone, 287 such fatalities were reported in 2022. These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for enhanced safety measures.
The Tribune’s investigation revealed that the manhole in Defence Colony was situated along the pavement of a residential property. Local MLA Madan Lal has disputed the father’s claims, attributing the incident to the residents rather than the civic authorities. Lal said, “The issue is not with the civic bodies but with the residents who have built structures above the sewer. The responsibility lies with them, not the Municipal Corporation.”
Rajesh, a labourer working near the school, said, “I’m not sure how long the manhole had been uncovered, but there was definitely a piece of cardboard placed over it when the child fell. The child likely didn’t notice the cardboard, and if the manhole had been visible, he might not have fallen in.”