Delhi Boy Drowns in Mandawali Chhath Puja Pond, Police Probe Negligence

New Delhi: A 13-year-old boy drowned in a pond constructed for Chhath Puja in east Delhi’s Mandawali on Wednesday.According to police, the boy had left his home to play in the afternoon but did not return by evening. The family members began searching for him around 5 pm.The child frequently visited Talab Park near Talab Chowk, where the pond is located. When relatives reached the park, they found his clothes and slippers lying on the edge of the waterbody.After a brief search, they recovered the boy’s body from the pond and rushed him to two nearby private hospitals. Doctors declared him dead on arrival.Sources said the family has accused the administration of negligence, claiming that the pond remains filled with water throughout the year and has become a spot where children often enter to bathe. They alleged that despite a security guard being deployed at the park, children continue to gain access to the waterbody unchecked.The pond had allegedly been enclosed with a protective net fence. However, children often manage to enter the restricted area by slipping underneath the netting.