No CCTVs, no lifeguards, no alarms: Screams of Delhi's 6-year-old boy drowned in systemic failure

NEW DELHI: What began as a routine summer morning for six-year-old Taksh Rathi quickly turned into a tragedy. On June 13, 2025, he had simply set out to join his neighbours' children for a swim at the MCD Community Centre pool in northwest Delhi's Pitampura. The day promised the innocent joys of childhood: laughter, splashing water, and the carefree delight of summer.

But that promise was cruelly broken. Taksh drowned in the pool and was later declared dead, turning a simple outing into a nightmare that would haunt his family forever.


Six months have passed, yet the sorrow remains as raw as the day it all began. Police registered a case of negligence and had bound down the owner and manager of the pool - an action that has done little to satisfy the grieving family.

Taksh's mother Kirti, who lives in Haiderpur, struggles under the unbearable weight of losing her only child. She works at a private company to support the family, and is constantly reminded of her son's life cut short.

It was the very first day Taksh had gone swimming with the neighbours' children. Around 10.40am, a phone call shattered the morning calm - Taksh had been found unconscious in the pool. By the time the family arrived, he was gone.

Speaking to TOI, Taksh's grandfather Lakshman Bhatt said his absence is felt in every corner of family life. "Taksh is remembered every time the family comes together. He used to dance, sing and make us laugh. Now, whenever we think of him, tears flow freely, especially during family functions," Bhatt said, his voice heavy with grief.

Bhatt alleged that the tragedy could have been entirely prevented if even basic safety measures had been in place. There were no lifeguards on duty, no life jackets or other essential safety equipment, and no immediate emergency response system.

"These are the most basic requirements any swimming pool should meet, especially when children are involved," Bhatt said. "It was shocking that in a pool where children were swimming, there were no proper safety arrangements. No CCTV cameras, no supervision, nothing. This was completely preventable. And yet, nothing was done."

A municipal official had stated that the swimming pool was rented out to a private concessionaire, but Bhatt pointed to a glaring lack of oversight by the authorities, whose duty was to ensure the facility was safe for children.

The police eventually registered a case under Section 106(1) (causing death by negligence) at Maurya Enclave police station. The pool owner, Arpana Tiwari, and the manager, Ajay Kumar, were bound down, and a chargesheet was filed.

Months after the tragedy, the family feels the sting of official inaction. "Even if the facility was privately run, there should have been constant monitoring to ensure rules were followed. Yet nothing meaningful was done in time to prevent this death," Bhatt said.

He added that guidelines for operating public swimming pools, particularly those frequented by children, are well established. "There is a clear set of rules that must be enforced. Govt's responsibility is to ensure these rules are followed. Had that happened, my grandson might still be alive today," he said.

The family of Taksh said they have moved Delhi High Court seeking justice.