Tragic accident: Three-Year-Old dies after falling into open drain in Guwahati

Guwahati: A three-year-old child lost his life after falling into an open drain at an under-construction site in Guwahati.The incident, which took place on Wednesday evening, prompted CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to direct chief secretary Ravi Kota to conduct a satellite survey of all open manholes and drains in the city to prevent further tragedies.

He added that the contractors were earlier asked to cover all drains and manholes, but it has been found that the cement slabs are often stolen, creating a dangerous situation for pedestrians.The child, identified as Sumit Kumar, fell into the drain in the Kalapahar area while playing. His parents, unaware of the accident, searched for him for hours until CCTV footage revealed the heartbreaking truth. Despite being rushed to a private hospital, Sumit was declared dead.This incident comes just a year after a similar tragedy involving an eight-year-old boy who was swept away during urban flooding after falling into an uncovered drain. His body was found three kilometers away after an extensive search.In response to the latest incident, the Public Works Department (PWD) has issued a show-cause notice to Bharatiya Infra Projects Limited, the company responsible for the drainage construction.

The executive engineer of the Central Guwahati division, Pranjal Bhattacharya, emphasized the need for accountability and strict safety inspections at construction sites.Brijesh Roy, the ward councillor who was present at the spot, said the particular drain was previously covered with a wooden slab which was removed by one of the construction workers.Residents of the area expressed their frustration over the ongoing negligence, citing haphazardly dumped construction materials and uncovered drains as persistent hazards.

Lakhya Das, a local resident, said, “We face this situation every day. Walking on these roads has become very dangerous, especially during night hours or when it rains. Although we have informed officials about it, no one has done anything.

”Sarma assured that steps would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future, acknowledging that previous directives to cover drains and manholes were often undermined by theft of cement slabs. The situation remains tense as residents demand immediate action and accountability from both PWD officials and contractors.