In a tragic incident in Delhi, a 23-year-old woman and her three-year-old son lost their lives after falling into an uncovered drain during a heavy rainstorm in the city last evening. Tanuja Bisht had gone to a weekly market in Ghazipur with her son Priyansh. As they were returning, a sudden downpour led to severe waterlogging, and they accidentally fell into an open drain. Several hours later, their bodies were found around 500 meters away, with Tanuja still holding her son’s hand.
The family believes the tragedy could have been prevented with a quicker rescue response. Tanuja’s husband, Govind Singh, who works in a private company in Noida, was at work when the incident occurred. He expressed frustration, stating, “If the rescue operation was swift, my wife and son could have been saved. Every year, such incidents take place, but no action is taken.”
Tanuja’s uncle, Harish Rawat, explained that the overflowing drain was difficult to see. He said, “We got information around 7.30 pm. We dialled 100 and the cops came with a rescue team. But they did not have proper equipment. They kept trying, but it did not work. The bodies were recovered more than two hours later.”
The family rushed Tanuja and Priyansh to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in a private cab, as no ambulance was available. Rawat also said that even in death, Tanuja did not let go of her son’s hand.
Local residents have criticized the civic authorities, pointing out that the drain has been left open for three months and consistently overflows during rains. “We have complained multiple times, but the administration does not want to work. I have lived for 20 years here, and I have seen flooded roads every monsoon. We have approached MPs, MLA, officials, but nothing worked,” a resident said.
