7 persons booked after 7 yr old boy drowns to death in swimming pool

Pune – Khadki police station have booked seven persons including a contractor and six lifeguards after a seven year old boy drowned in a swimming pool in Bopodi on Friday morning. The pool is run by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

The deceased boy has been identified as Arhan, who studied in class 2. He is survived by his parents, sister and gradmother.

According to police, the incident took place around 11.30 am in Veema Patil Swimming Pool in Bopodi on Friday. One of the guard Chhaya Abnawe allowed only Arhan inside the pool even though he didnt know how to swim. His two cousins Rizwan Rahim Shaikh (13) and Faizan Hamid Shaikh (13) were not allowed. Faizan went back home and informed Arhan’s mother Nilopher Shaikh, who rushed to the swimming pool and told the woman guard that her son didn’t know swimming.

Faizan then went inside the swimming pool, but couldn’t find Arhan. The guard told Faizan that Arhan may have gone back home. Faizan then searched for Arhan again at his residence, but failed to trace him.

Meanwhile, Nilopher found Arhan’s footwear near the swimming pool, and she asked the staff to check inside the pool. A lifeguard then jumped inside the pool, and found an unconscious Arhan. The boy was rushed to the Sahyadri Hospital, where he was declared dead by doctors.

Based on complaint from Arhan’s father Aslam Shaikh Gulam Dastagir (34), a scrap vendor, Khadki police station has registered FIR against contractor Pyarelal Chaudhary, swimming pool manager Sachin Mandar, guard Chhaya Abnawe, lifeguards Akash Gade, Akshay Shinde, Ganesh Tarange and Vikas Randhir.

They have been booked for offence under section 304a (causing death due to negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (ipc).

Police Sub-inspector M A Kamble is further investigating the case.