Raipur: The Chhattisgarh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the Urban Administration Department, district collectors and urban local bodies to take immediate preventive measures against fatal accidents involving children falling into open drains, potholes and construction pits.
Expressing concern over a series of such incidents, the commission said several children have lost their lives after falling into uncovered drains, open construction pits and rainwater-filled potholes in residential colonies and on public roads.
Exercising its powers under Sections 13 and 15 of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, the commission issued a set of recommendations aimed at protecting children’s right to life.
Commission chairperson Varnika Sharma and secretary Prateek Khare instructed all urban local bodies to immediately conduct a survey to identify open drains, potholes and hazardous construction sites. They directed that such locations be either filled or secured with barricades, including wooden fencing, to prevent children from accidentally falling into them.
The commission also ordered all construction agencies and housing colonies to adequately secure foundation and column pits at construction sites and deploy security personnel at vulnerable locations to prevent children from entering hazardous areas.
It observed that during the monsoon, children walking or playing in the rain are often unable to distinguish between shallow and deep waterlogged areas, significantly increasing the risk of drowning or serious injury.
The commission asked the department’s secretariat and senior officials to issue detailed directions to local authorities and instructed district collectors and urban body officials to review the implementation of the safety measures during their weekly time-bound review meetings.
The departments concerned have been directed to implement the recommendations and submit a written compliance report to the commission by July 7, 2026.
