5-year-old dies after falling into drain

GUWAHATI: A five-year-old boy, Joydeep Chakraborty, drowned after falling into a drain near the newly-constructed Barsapara stadium in the Bhaskar Nagar area of the city on Friday.
The Kamrup (Metro) district administration has ordered a probe into the accident.
The mishap occurred around 10am. Joydeep fell into the drain, which is connected to the Bharalu River and was overflowing with rainwater coming down from the nearby hills.
“He (Joydeep) went out to throw some paper in the drain. But he slipped and fell into it. The water current immediately dragged him under a culvert. The child’s body was discovered at the other end of the culvert,” said police.
Joydeep is the only son of Haru Chakraborty, a priest at a local temple, and Bulu Chakraborty. Because of the morning shower, he did not go to the local Anganwadi centre for his classes. Several areas in the city were flooded.
Locals blamed unplanned drainage system in the area for Joydeep’s death. “The eviction drive to clear water channels is just an eyewash. The administration has failed completely to protect the citizens as well as water bodies,” said a local.
A probe, to be led by Dispur circle officer Prashant Katkotia, will unearth the reasons and circumstances leading to the death and haul up the departments responsible for the accident.
The district administration announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh for the child’s family.