12-yr-old drowns in water-filled pit

Greater Noida: A 12-year-old boy drowned while two other children were injured when they fell into an open pit filled with murky water in Rabupura village in Greater Noida on Tuesday. Local residents alleged a government contractor had excavated soil from the area, which had developed into a pit.
The accident happened in Mohalla Sadbhawna Nagar. On Tuesday, around 10 children were playing near the pit when Farhan (12), Sahista (8) and Kale (5) slipped and fell into the water.Other children raised an alarm and local residents rushed to rescue them.
The children were rushed to a nearby hospital where Farhan was declared brought dead. Sahista and Kale are now recuperating. According to doctors, though their condition was serious when they were brought in, they are now out of danger. Residents alleged that a government contractor created the pit for excavation of soil from the village.
"A road construction work was going on in the area. The contractor needed sand for the same so he dug up the pit. We had protested against digging but the contractor and government officers didn't pay heed to us," said Saleem, a local resident.
District magistrate N P Singh has ordered a probe. "A team will investigate whether the contractor had dug the pit for excavation of soil. If found guilty, stringent action will be taken against him. The allegations of the villagers are thoroughly examined by chief development officer."
DSP Dilip Singh said that no FIR has been lodged so far.
Farhan's uncle Ikram Khan, however, said the family will raise the issue before the government and demand arrest of the contractor and a compensation.