New Delhi: A 15-year-old Delhi boy died after falling into an open drain while chasing a kite. Mithun, a Class 8 student, fell into the drain on Saturday morning near his home in Jasola village, southeast Delhi.
He reportedly fell into the uncovered drain while chasing a kite around 11 am. His family immediately suspected that he had fallen into the drain located near their house. Authorities launched a major search operation after Mithun went missing following the incident. The Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), rescue teams and divers joined the operation to locate him. Rescue personnel searched the drainage system and nearby areas for four days before finding the teenager’s body on Tuesday. Mithun’s family originally came from Uttar Pradesh and works as labourers in Delhi. The family lives near the drain where Mithun disappeared on Saturday morning.
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Delhi Father’s Desperate Search and MCD Action
A video showing Mithun’s father searching the drain later circulated widely on social media. The video showed the grieving father entering the drain and using a stick while searching for his son. His desperate effort reflected the family’s anguish as the rescue operation continued without success. Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) suspended a junior engineer following the incident. The civic body accused the official of dereliction of duty and announced disciplinary proceedings against him. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed deep sorrow over the teenager’s tragic death.
She also directed senior officials to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Gupta asked the chief secretary to establish the drain’s jurisdiction within one hour. She also ordered officials to suspend the officer responsible for the alleged negligence. The incident has raised serious concerns about open drains and public safety across Delhi. Residents have repeatedly highlighted the dangers that uncovered drains can create in populated areas. The tragedy has also renewed calls for better monitoring and maintenance of civic infrastructure. Authorities now face questions about drain maintenance, accountability and safety measures. Further proceedings will determine responsibility for the circumstances that led to Mithun’s death. His tragic death has left his family and local community grieving. The incident also highlights the risks children face around poorly maintained public infrastructure.