Man drowns in Hapur pool; family seeks probe

Meerut: A 36-year-old man died after allegedly drowning in a swimming pool in Hapur’s Kotwali area on Sunday, with his family seeking a probe into the circumstances.

The deceased, Ashish Singhal, a dry fruit trader from Pilkhuwa, had gone to the pool with family and friends. While swimming, he entered the deeper section and drowned. Those present pulled him out and rushed him to a nearby private hospital, where he was declared dead.

Police reached the spot, took two of his friends into custody for questioning, and sent the body for postmortem.

Circle officer Varun Mishra said the pool operator is absconding. “Efforts are on to trace him. No lifeguard or adequate safety measures were found at the site. We will write to the department concerned to take appropriate action,” he said.

Residents alleged that several swimming pools in the district are operating without lifeguards and without permission to extract groundwater, raising concerns over safety and regulation.

“There are several unregulated swimming pools operating illegally, posing a serious risk to public safety. Many lack trained lifeguards, and even basic safety equipment is either unavailable or provided at an additional charge. These pools are often built too deep, making them unsafe for inexperienced swimmers,” said Saurabh Shukla, a resident.

District sports officer Aruna Sirohi said a swimming pool for adults should ideally not exceed a depth of five feet. “A comprehensive inspection drive will be conducted across the district, and strict compliance with safety guidelines will be ensured,” she said.
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