JOIN USThe safety guidelines on sumps in the City, have come under scanner following a rise in the number of children meeting a watery grave.
As many as four children, aged between two and seven, have drowned in the sumps over the last three months. Recently, a seven-year-old boy was found dead in a sump at his house in Hebbal, while playing.
Adherence to safety norms on sumps has generally been lax. “Maintenance of sumps should be a priority. The cement lids of the sumps often develop cracks at the edge, creating gaps.
It is tempting for children to peek into sumps and if the lid is not strong, children fall into sumps easily,” said Suresh Thimmaiah, a resident of JP Nagar. He said the only solution is that the house owners should ensure the sump is covered fully and firmly.
Narasimha Murthy, Joint Director, Town Planning, BBMP, says that the ultimate responsibility lies with the house owners. “But no guidelines or norms have been framed as such for the sumps constructed by house owners. There is little we can do,” he said.
However, such deaths have occurred not just in residential areas but also on construction sites. The main reason being that the sumps are just left open, exposing the children to danger. Srinivas Rao of the Fire and Emergency Services, said that the sumps should never be left open or uncovered.