9-yr-old fractures arm in park, parents serve notice on MC

Garima Ahluwalia was playing on multi-play equipment in a park in Sector 41. As she tried grabbing a railing, it gave way and she fell off, hitting a rock that was present beneath the swing. As a result, she fractured her upper right arm.

After around a seven-hour-long surgery, Garima is still in pain with several stitches and would not be able to write for months. “My daughter is a regular student and her exams are approaching. We just hope she gets to clear this class. We are grateful that the Almighty gave her little wisdom and she supported her head by her arm. Had it been her skull bone instead of the arm, we would have been ruined,” said her mother Aarti Ahluwalia.

The nine-year-old has been practising cricket for the past five years and was getting coaching to get into the under-19 women’s cricket team. However, she would not be able to play cricket for at least two years now.

Narinder Kwatra, her cricket coach, said, “These days not many parents, especially of girls, support their children to play sports. I wish this long bedrest does not make her unfit. Even after being medically fine, she would take extra time to get ready for cricket. We will have special warm-ups and physio therapy once she recovers.”

Aarti said that they approached an advocate and sent a notice to the Municipal Corporation on Friday. “We are seeking not only compensation but also want repair and maintenance of the parks so that children remain safe,” she added.

Area councillor Malkiat Singh said, “It is sad that the child had to suffer so much. I would talk to the Commissioner and would provide personal help to the family. They do deserve the compensation. But at the same time we cannot deny the presence of anti-social elements in the area. Recently, we installed 50 new bins in the area. But now you can hardly see any. People should also cooperate in maintenance.”