SDMC, police get NHRC notices over drowning of child

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notices to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and the police over the death of a child who fell into a septic tank in a school here.

"The commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a 4-5 year old boy, Ankit, died after falling in an open septic tank in a Kapashera school on January 27," the NHRC said in a statement.

"The commission, expressing serious concern over the negligence on the part of school administration, has issued notices to the Commissioner, SDMC, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West), Delhi, calling for detailed reports in the matter within four weeks," the release added.

Ankit reportedly fell into the open septic tank while playing with his friends in the school run by the SDMC in the Kapashera area.

According to reports, a labourer, Ram Singh, who was working at a nearby under-construction building, jumped into the tank and managed to pull out Ankit.

The child was taken to Columbia Asia Hospital in Gurgaon in Haryana where the doctors declared him brought dead.

The NHRC expressed serious concern over the negligence on the part of the school administration as the boy's family, police and the civic body were not immediately informed about the incident.