BPTP Park Serene residential condominium in Sector 37D. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)
The Gurugram administration on Thursday ordered an immediate safety audit of all public and private swimming pools in the district, a day after the death by drowning of a 5-year-old boy at a pool in a residential society.
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Officials said this directive aims to prevent future tragedies by ensuring that all facilities comply with stringent safety protocols.
Gurugram deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said the boy’s death has raised serious concerns about the safety protocols in place at pools in residential areas, which are maintained by outsourced agencies. “The audit will prevent future tragedies by ensuring that all swimming pool facilities comply with stringent safety protocols. A detailed comprehensive plan will be prepared to address these safety concerns. We are implementing a multifaceted approach that includes immediate safety audits, mandatory lifeguard certification and to ensure no child is unattended,” he said.
Yadav said that the administration will scrutinise any negligence, and will conduct safety audits following the checklist provisions. “We are committed to ensuring the highest safety standards to protect our residents, especially children. Also, the sports department has been instructed to check swimming pool licences and permissions until a new policy/standard operating procedure is established by the state government,” he said.
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Officials said the new policy aims to streamline the process of granting permissions and ensure that all safety protocols are rigorously followed.
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Officials said the new policy aims to streamline the process of granting permissions and ensure that all safety protocols are rigorously followed.
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The DC said that swimming pool owners/operators are directed to follow all safety standards and protocols to operate such facilities, as approved in the building plan issued by the competent authority.
“A checklist regarding required safety protocols was shared with all the departments and RWAs. It shall be sole responsibility of the owner/operator (as applicable) of the swimming pool to abide by all the safety precautions mentioned and submit a compliance report to the office of respective SDM annually before March 31 of every year. Officials have been directed to carry out checks/inspections regarding the adherence of the checklist in their respective jurisdiction and submit a compliance report,” Yadav said.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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