Swimming pool owner, manager booked after teen drowns in Parwalia swimming pool

Times News Network

Bhopal: Parwalia police on Thursday registered a case against the owner and manager of a swimming pool on charges of causing death by negligence following the drowning death of a 17-year-old Class 12 student earlier this week. Police said the pool lacked basic safety arrangements, including lifeguards, divers and safety equipment.

The incident took place on May 24 when the deceased, Asmit Raikwar, 17, had gone to a swimming pool near Morda Jod in Parwalia area along with seven to eight friends to celebrate his friend’s birthday.

Police said Asmit, son of Ravindra Raikwar, was a native of Vidisha district and was currently residing near DIG Bungalow Square in Gautam Nagar area. His father runs a tea stall in Bhopal.

According to police, around 11.30am, while the group was swimming, Asmit allegedly moved towards the deeper side of the pool and started drowning as he did not know how to swim. His friends pulled him out of the water and rushed him to a private hospital in Mubarakpur, where doctors declared him dead.

Parwalia police had initially registered a case of unnatural death and launched an investigation.

SHO Harishankar Verma said that during the probe it was found that no lifeguards, divers or safety equipment were available at the pool. Police also found that although a diving board was installed, there was no trained person present to guide or demonstrate safety measures to children before diving. No warning signboards had been installed at the premises either.

Following the findings, police registered a case against the woman owner of the swimming pool and its manager.