A three-year-old boy died after drowning in a water-filled pit in Greater Noida’s Dalelgarh village, triggering fresh outrage among residents and once again drawing attention to a series of fatal accidents linked to unsecured pits and waterlogged excavations across Delhi-NCR.

The incident occurred on Saturday in the Dankaur police station area when the child, identified as Devansh, fell into a deep pit filled with rainwater near a temple where a community feast was underway.

According to local accounts, the boy had recently arrived in the village with his father, Anil, from Secunderabad in Bulandshahr district, to visit relatives.

While playing near the gathering, the child slipped into the pit unnoticed.

Family members and villagers rushed to rescue him and managed to pull him out, but he had already died.

The tragedy has left the family devastated and sparked anger among residents, who alleged that the hazardous pit had remained open for a long time without fencing, barricading or warning signage.

Villagers claimed they had repeatedly complained to the Greater Noida Authority about the dangerous site, particularly after recent drowning incidents elsewhere in the region, but no preventive action was taken.

They alleged that waterlogging after rains had turned the deep excavation into a deadly trap.

Responding to the incident, AK Singh, General Manager of the Greater Noida Authority, said officials inspected the site after receiving information, but maintained that the administration could not take direct action as the water body was privately owned.

“In Dalelgarh, there is news that there was a lake in which a three-year-old child drowned and died. After receiving information, the administration took necessary steps and sent officials to inspect the site," Singh said.

He added that the inspection revealed the lake belonged to private owners, Gangaram and Dharamveer, and was being used for private purposes.

“Because of this, the administration cannot take any direct action," he stated, while expressing grief over the child’s death.

Singh further said the administration was “deeply saddened by this incident" and appealed to residents to remain cautious in public places and ensure proper supervision of children.

The Dalelgarh tragedy comes amid heightened scrutiny of civic safety across Delhi-NCR following multiple recent deaths caused by open pits, drains and unprotected excavations.

In January, a 27-year-old software engineer died after his car plunged into a water-filled construction pit in Noida’s Sector 150, an incident that led to administrative action and an investigation after authorities found the site lacked proper fencing and safety measures.

Reports later revealed the hazardous water body had existed for years despite warnings and complaints.

Within days of that case, an 11-year-old boy in neighbouring Ghaziabad also died after falling into an open drain near his home, highlighting recurring civic negligence across the region.

Delhi has witnessed similar incidents as well, including the recent death of a motorcyclist who fell into an uncovered pit in Janakpuri and another fatality involving an unprotected manhole in Rohini, both raising questions about the enforcement of safety norms.

Source: News18