The tragedy of the 14-year-old boy who drowned after falling into a rainwater-filled shoddy excavation constructed in the Patan police station area of the district has been reported in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
The teenager’s name is Anshu Patel and the incident happened near Sahsan village as he was on his way home from his farm. The road was flooded and wet, making driving difficult. 18-year-old Anshu was allegedly distracted as he walked for a while before he slipped and fell to his death into a deep pit adjacent to the road near a mine.
The boy was unable to come out of the mine because it allegedly had filled up with water. He died in the water and a particular tragedy was mourned and resented by other members of his family and neighbours.
After the teen was killed, the villagers of Jangfur put his body on the road and jammed the Shahpura–Patan main road. The road block caused long traffic snarled lines and traffic delays in the area.
The villagers reportedly voiced their anger about the supposed illegal mining and they questioned why there were no safety precautions set around the deep digging. The incident has also been a cause of worry over abandoned or illegally dug mines and their hazards especially during rainy season when they may be filled with rainwater and subsequent landslides.
Members of the family and villagers called for action against those allegedly involved in the site stealing, and blamed authorities for failure to act.
Again the incident has raised the alarm concerning the possible risks associated with the indiscriminate mining practices, particularly during rainy seasons. When these deep pits are situated near roads, agricultural fields or residential property, they can be serious dangers to residents and especially children.
Authorities are likely to probe into the boy’s death and the alleged illegal mining in the area.