Death of 6-yr-old boy fuels concern over safety of gated communities

Hyderabad: The tragic death of a six-year-old boy on Thursday after a concrete bench fell on him while playing in Janapriya Utopia, a gated community in Hyderguda, has given rise to concern over the safety of children in the gated communities in Greater Hyderabad.

This is a second incident within the last three months, as a six-year-old boy Monish on February 11 was electrocuted while playing at his society in PBEL City under Narsingi police station limits.

The negligence on the part of the associations of the gated communities in focussing attention on upkeep seems to be causing mishaps, it is felt.

The parents of Divit Sharma could never have imagine in their wildest dream that their beloved son would meet such a tragic mishap.

The six-year-old boy Divit Sharma, who was studying second class in an international school in Shaikpet, was injured seriously when he was playing with the other children in the Janapriya Utopia gated community play area.

After playing with his friends he reached to a nearby one of the concrete benches which was in a bad condition and started swinging. While swinging the damaged bench suddenly fell on his neck and he succumbed to his grievous injuries.

The children playing at the spot and the elders there noticed the incident and rushed to his rescue. But he fell unconscious. His parents rushed and shifted him to the nearby hospital.

After examining him, the doctors declared him brought dead. By registering a case Rajendranagar police are investigating. They are collecting the CCTV footage in which the whole incident recorded.

The death of a child created mild tension in the Janapriya Utopia. The residents, especially women, came out and questioned the negligence on the part maintenance staff and the Association office-bearers.

They alleged that even after collecting the Rs 1,200 towards maintenance a month from the flat owners, the Association failed to ensure maintenance of infrastructure.

The 950 flat owners in the gated community raised the question "who will save our children." They alleged that the maintenance association by violating the rules is doing illegal constructions and occupying the spaces which are supposed to be playground.

On the other hand, the association members denied that allegations levelled against them by simply saying that they had nothing to do with the concrete benches.

Since the benches were arranged by the senior citizens three years ago, its maintenance should also be ensured by them. They further alleged that the parents used to fight with the security persons if they tried to prevent their children from playing in areas fraught with danger.

Earlier on February 11, a six-year-old boy Monish, a class I student, was electrocuted while playing at his housing society after he came in contact with a lamp post in PBEL City under Narsingi police station limits.