Bengaluru, Jul 22: A routine after-school affair went awry for a three-and-a-half-year-old boy. Vikyat, an LKG student drowned after accidentally falling into a swimming pool on the premises of Mantri Residency, an upscale apartment complex on Bannerghatta Road.
When they came back half an hour later, they were shocked to find a bicycle floating in the pool. One of the guards then jumped into the pool and found that their worst fears had come true: the boy had drowned, the police said.
Vikyat was the only son of Abhijit Deshpande and Pallavi, both software engineers from Belagavi. The couple work for a leading IT company in Bengaluru and have been living in Mantri Residency for the last few years.
A senior police officer said: “The boy’s parents have stated that the housekeeping staff had cleaned the pool and filled it with water and left the place. His grandparents didn’t realise that he had gone out of home. He accidentally fell into the pool and drowned. He used to go cycling around the premises.” The officer suspected that the boy lost balance while cycling and fell into the swimming pool.
Police are trying to get the footage of CCTV cameras installed at the apartment complex to find out how exactly the accident occurred. A case of unnatural death has been registered at the Hulimavu police station.
The Hulimavu police have registered a case of unnatural death. They are contemplating booking a case of negligence against the security staff of the apartment complex.
Gautam Mukherjee, head of Mantri Propcare, said the swimming pool is about four feet deep. “The rules are clear that swimming is at his/her own risk. We have no liability,” he added.
While police pointed to lack of security personnel at the pool, Mantri Propcare head Gautam Mukherjee told The Hindu that the deployment of security guards was made in consultation with the residents’ association. “A few months ago, residents felt that women who use the pool would not be comfortable with a guard stationed there,” he said.
A guard stationed at a block close to the pool was given the additional task of supervising the pool, he said. At the time of the incident, the guard was at the other end of the block, overlooking the entrance while schoolchildren were returning home, he added.
He also said the society’s guidelines are clear that children aged eight and below should be under supervision. “It is unfortunate that though there are many balconies overlooking the pool, no one noticed the boy slip into the pool and drown,” Mr. Mukherjee said.
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