Officials visit site where 7 children drowned
Revenue officials went to Piprodakhurd village in Guna district on Tuesday to measure the land allotted to a stone-crushing site where seven children drowned in a rainwater-filled ditch, allegedly dug up for mining stones.
Revenue officials went to Piprodakhurd village in Guna district on Tuesday to measure the land allotted to a stone-crushing site where seven children drowned in a rainwater-filled ditch, allegedly dug up for mining stones.
The officials (patwaris) went to the village after district magistrate Rajesh Jain ordered a probe on Monday. A case will be registered after they submit a report to Jain.
The seven children, aged between 10 and 14 years, were returning home on Sunday evening after collecting donations for Navratri celebrations. On the way, they stopped near the ditch to take bath, leading to the tragedy.
“A case will be registered against the stone-crushing site owner after patwaris submit the report. Investigations revealed that the stone-crushing unit was owned by Yashwant Agrawal, a resident of Guna. Agrawal had given the site to a second party on contract,” Jain told Hindustan Times.
“There was no guard or fencing near the ditch to prevent anyone from entering it. Proper safety measures near the spot could have prevented the incident. No case has been registered and no arrests have been made so far.”
The State Human Rights Commission sought a report on the incident from the district administration. “We have taken cognizance in the incident and asked for a report within seven days. We have asked the district administration to mention the possible role of illegal mining, which might have caused the incident,” said LR Sisodia, public relation officer of the State Human Rights Commission.
On Monday, a delegation of Congress members visited the village and met the family members of the deceased children.
(With inputs from Yogendra Lumba)