New Delhi, 24 April (H.S.):

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the drowning deaths of four children in a deep water‑filled pit near an ongoing drain‑construction site in the Islampura area of Nanded district, Maharashtra, and has issued notices to the District Magistrate (DM), Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Nagar Ayukta (municipal commissioner) of Nanded‑Waghala. The Commission has directed the local administration to submit a detailed report on the incident within two weeks and has warned that, if media reports are found accurate, the case would amount to both administrative negligence and a serious violation of human rights.

According to the preliminary account, the four children were playing near a pit about 15 feet deep, dug by a municipal corporation contractor for drainage work, when they entered the water without realising the actual depth. The pit had filled with dirty and stagnant water due to halted construction, and the children quickly drowned. Local residents and police rushed to the spot after hearing screams, but despite strenuous efforts they could not rescue any of the four children, all of whom were residents of Islampura.

The NHRC has asked the authorities to include in their report the health status of the bereaved family members, details of any immediate relief or compensation already provided, and the steps taken to ensure such accidents do not recur. The Commission has also indicated that it will decide on further action only after receiving the official report, focusing on whether proper safety barriers, warning signs and supervision were in place at the construction site.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar