8-yr-old boy drowns in Agra water park

Agra: An eight-year-old boy drowned in a swimming pool at a water park in Agra while on a weekend outing with his family, police said. The incident occurred around 6:30 pm Sunday at an amusement facility under the jurisdiction of Kiraoli police station.

Manit Kumar Singh was a Class 3 student and resident of Ajit Nagar under Shahganj police limits. He had visited the water park with his father, Robin, his mother, Neelam, and other relatives. Robin is an online footwear businessman.

The child’s uncle, Neeraj, alleged negligence on the part of the water park management. The family arrived at the park around 3:00 pm and when Manit went missing a few hours later, the family’s desperate pleas for help were reportedly dismissed by the staff, said Neeraj.

“When Robin explicitly asked the staff to search inside the pool, they refused, maintaining that the boy was not in the water. Finally, two or three other visitors spotted the child and pulled him out of the pool,” said Neeraj.

Manit was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where doctors referred him to Sarojini Naidu Medical College, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Following the tragedy, the grieving parents initially took their son’s body back to their residence. Police personnel from Shahganj later visited the home to gather details.

Lohamandi ACP Gaurav Singh stated that the family was initially reluctant to consent to an autopsy. “They were later persuaded, and the body has been sent for a postmortem examination. If the family submits a written complaint, a formal investigation will be conducted,” the ACP said.

Meanwhile, authorities have launched an inquiry to verify whether the water park possessed valid documents and if adequate safety protocols and lifeguards were stationed at the pool.