Two kids die in Kapileshwar well tragedy, spotlight on civic failure

Belagavi: The drowning deaths of two children in a well behind the famous Kapileshwar Temple on Sunday morning once again exposed serious administrative negligence and long-standing lapses in public safety measures in the city.The deceased are Shivam Parashuram Sundikar, 7, and Parashuram Raju Nilajkar, 11, both residents of Shivaji Nagar. Their bodies were recovered by Khade Bazar police with the help of trained swimmers after a search operation.As per preliminary information, the two boys went to the well to swim during their holiday. After swimming, they were reportedly sitting on the parapet of the well when a portion of the protective wall suddenly collapsed, resulting in them falling into the water. Both children drowned before help could reach them.The incident sent shockwaves across Belagavi, and triggered widespread outrage among residents, many of whom argue that the tragedy could have been prevented.Although the well is privately owned, a proposal to acquire and develop the site was reportedly pending with the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC), for several years. However, officials are said to have repeatedly delayed action, citing financial constraints.Residents pointed out that multiple drowning incidents and fatal accidents have occurred at the same location over the years, earning the well the reputation of being a "death trap." Local citizens have repeatedly urged authorities to repair the damaged parapet, construct proper safety walls and undertake regular maintenance. However, these demands allegedly went unanswered as the site is under private ownership.The tragedy also highlighted the lack of affordable and safe swimming facilities for economically weaker sections in the city. With most swimming pools charging between Rs 100 and Rs 200 per hour, many children and youths are forced to use unsafe waterbodies for recreation, often without supervision or safety arrangements.Residents and safety experts argue that despite the property being private, the civic body cannot evade responsibility when a location known for attracting large numbers of swimmers poses a clear public danger.Following Sunday's tragedy, demands intensified for the BCC to immediately acquire the well premises and develop a secure public swimming facility with proper safety infrastructure. Though discussions on acquiring the land reportedly began nearly a decade ago, the proposal remains unresolved even today.