10-yr-old boy drowns in pond at Malvani

A 10-year-old boy drowned in a pond at Malvani in Malad West on Saturday.

A 10-year-old boy drowned in a pond at Malvani in Malad West on Saturday.

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Pappu Singh, a Class 4 student, was reportedly swimming in Aali talao at Rathodi village when the accident occurred.

The Malvani police said the body was discovered on Sunday morning. “Around 8.45 am, the police control room got a call that a body was floating in the pond,” said senior inspector V.R. Andhale.

The police reached the spot and informed the fire brigade, which removed the body. “There were no injury or strangulation marks on the body. He died due to drowning,” said an officer adding that the pond is around 11 feet deep.

Singh lived with his parents and three siblings in the village. His father is a daily wage labourer. The police said Singh had left home around 6 pm after telling his mother that he was going out to play with his friends. “The boy was fascinated with the pond and went to swim with a group of local children,” added an officer.

The police said the pond is frequented by villagers. “Singh had been telling his mother that he wanted to learn swimming but she didn’t listen to him,” added Andhale.

When Singh did not return till late evening, his family started searching for him. “The accident could not be discovered in the night as the area in uninhabited for around half a kilometre,” the officer added.

A case of accidental death has been registered.

The boy’s body has been sent to Bhagwati hospital for a post mortem.