10-yr-old, who fell off Bandra skywalk, dies

Altaf Khan (10), who had fallen through a gap in the skywalk at Bandra (West) last week, died in KEM Hospital, Parel, early on Tuesday.

Altaf Khan (10), who had fallen through a gap in the skywalk at Bandra (West) last week, died in KEM Hospital, Parel, early on Tuesday.

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Khan had slipped into a coma after the fall.

The boy’s family and locals blamed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the lack of proper fencing on the skywalk.

Khan sustained grievous injuries on the head on May 19 when he fell off the skywalk while playing with friends. Witnesses said he hit the branch of a tree before falling to the ground.

An auto rickshaw driver rescued him and informed people at a nearby mosque. Khan’s family found out about the incident when the mosque made an announcement on its loudspeakers. The victim and his family lived at Patel Nagar slum in Bandra.

Residents of the slum alleged that the skywalk could prove to be a death trap for anybody. “The gaps between the railings on the skywalk are more than 2 feet wide and there are gaps between the stairs as well,” said Khan’s relative, Sadiq Sheikh. “There are four schools in the vicinity and young children use the skywalk. It could be any other child next time. The MMRDA should do something.” The MMRDA, in turn, claimed Khan had jumped from the skywalk to an adjacent banyan tree to pluck leaves.

MMRDA officials said they have deputed a security guard on all skywalk sites to ensure that people do not walk use the structure if it is under construction. “Before undertaking any project, the primary safety of people is given utmost importance with best engineering technology used to ensure mishaps are avoided,” the spokesperson said.

Local activists, however, feel the development authority should take more precaution.

“A couple of days ago, I saw some more youngsters sitting on the bars [of the skywalk]. They could easily fall and meet the same fate,” said activist Anandini Thakoor. “The concerned authorities should take necessary steps and bar entry on the skywalk until precautionary measures are introduced.”

The family, meanwhile, had not received the boy’s body until Tuesday night because it had been taken to JJ Hospital for postmortem. The family is also concerned about the medical expenses.

“They are very poor. Altaf’s father is the sole breadwinner,” said Nadir Khan (27), a neighbour.