11-year-old boy falls in ditch, dies

An 11-year-old child died after falling into a water-filled ditch in northwest Delhi's Shalimar Bagh on Saturday evening, the police said.

An 11-year-old child died after falling into a water-filled ditch in northwest Delhi's Shalimar Bagh on Saturday evening, the police said.

HT Image

"The incident was reported from near a private hospital's under-construction building at 6pm yesterday (Saturday). The victim has been identified as Abhishek. He had come down to the capital from Badayun in Uttar Pradesh to visit his aunt," said a senior police officer.

The police said Abhishek fell into the ditch while playing with his friends near his aunt's house in Haiderpur village.

"He was playing when he found himself dangerously close to the said ditch, which is understood to be 12 feet deep and 10 feet wide. He lost his balance and fell," the officer said.

According to the police, he was fished out be one of his aunt's neighbours.

Abhishek was taken to the adjacent Babu Jagjivan Ram hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police are mulling criminal proceedings against the contractor engaged by the said hospital for the construction.

"At the moment we have registered a case of death due to negligence. The hospital said the ditch is outside its campus and that they shouldn't be held culpable. We are investigating whether to initiate criminal proceedings against the hospital or the contractor," the officer added.