Greater Noida: A six-year-old boy, Prithvi, tragically drowned on Monday afternoon while bathing in a rainwater-filled fountain at the D-Park in Greater Noida’s Sector P3. The incident has sparked widespread outrage among residents, who have accused the Greater Noida Authority of gross negligence.
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Prithvi, a resident of Sector P3 and a Lower Kindergarten (LKG) student, slipped into the stagnant water collected in the fountain, which had reportedly become a hazard due to a lack of maintenance. A senior police official confirmed that a call was received at around 3:50 PM about a child drowning in the park fountain. A police team responded promptly and rushed the child to Yatharth Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
According to residents, the fountain had remained unused for years, often collecting rainwater and becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and filth.
We have repeatedly requested the Authority to shut down the fountain. Even the former CEO had issued instructions to close it. Yet, no action was taken.
Aditya Bhati, Former RWA President
The Greater Noida Authority expressed condolences, calling the incident “very sad.”
The matter is being investigated. Strict action will be taken against negligent officials. Measures will be implemented to prevent such tragedies in future.
OSD Gunja Singh
Prithvi’s family, originally from Shahjahanpur, lives in a rented house in D Block of Sector P3. His mother Ruchi, a domestic worker, said her son was born with a hole in his heart and was undergoing treatment at AIIMS.
He returned from school around 2 PM. I had to visit my sister-in-law in the hospital, so I made food and locked the children inside before leaving. Around 4 PM, I got a call about the incident,” she recalled tearfully.
Mother
Prithvi’s father, Subhash, works in a packaging factory. The couple is devastated by the loss of their only son, who was also the elder sibling to two younger sisters.
Residents say the tragedy was preventable. Amit Bhati, Secretary of the Sector P3 RWA, criticised the authorities for letting the infrastructure fall into disrepair.
This so-called fountain has never worked. It regularly fills with rainwater due to poor drainage. We’ve raised the issue multiple times, but officials failed to act. If this negligence continues, we will launch a protest.
Amit Bhati, Secretary
The incident has raised serious concerns about the condition of public infrastructure and the accountability of civic agencies in Greater Noida.