11-year-old boy falls into manhole, dies

An eleven-year-old boy, who had recently landed in the city, died after falling into a manhole at Goregaon (West) on Sunday morning.

Police said, Ranjeet Gupta, a resident of the Ganesh Nagar slum near Kama Estate in Goregaon (east) had come to the city only four days ago. His elder brother, Rakesh Gupta, 20, runs a puri-bhaji stall at Ram Mandir Road in Goregaon (W), while their parents live in native Bihar.

“When Rakesh returned from his native, he brought along the younger Ranjeet so that “he can study better in the city school”. Around 6am on Sunday, when Rakesh came at his puri-bhaji stall, Ranjeet accompanied him,” said inspector Raju Kasbe of the Goregaon police.

It was around 7am, when Ranjeet went to attend nature’s call in a nearby plot that was barricaded with a teensheet. However, pavement dwellers had cut out a small hole from where they would enter the plot for toilet. “Once inside, there is a 15-foot deep manhole filled with water till seven feet and covered with teensheet. As Ranjeet stepped on the teensheet, it gave away and he drowned in it,”  said Raju.

When he did not return for half hour, Rakesh went in his search. Seeing his slipper lying near the manhole, he realised something was wrong and informed the fire-brigade who fished the body out,” said Kasbe. Ranjeet was rushed to Bhagwati Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

A case of accidental death has been registered.