Going out to play in a park proved too costly for a 13-year-old Bengaluru girl on Saturday.
Priya Gowda, who went to play in a park maintained by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at MVJ Layout, fell unconscious after an iron rod fell over her while trying to climb a slide. She was declared brought dead after locals took her to the nearby hospital. Later her body was shifted to Bowring Hospital.
Mahadevapura police said the tragedy occurred around 5.30pm on Saturday. The park did not have any security guard, there weren’t any warning boards either.
The rod was one of the new structures that were being installed in the new park.
It was when the eighth standard student was climbing up the under-construction slide, the whole structure disintegrated and one rod fell on her. This is when her friends called for help and the locals took her to the hospital.
“It is a clear case of negligence on part of BBMP. They have kept playing equipment in the park while a few are being fixed. How would children know about the condition of the equipment, if there is no notice board,” one of the eyewitnesses told Deccan Chronicle.
"A pole (part of the new equipment) fell on her head. She collapsed unconscious with severe head injuries. She was rushed to a nearby private hospital where she was declared brought dead," MB Boralingaiah, DCP (south east) told The Times of India.
Police have filed a case of negligence against BBMP officials and the contractor.
“A lot of play equipment is being kept in the park and the work on fixing them was underway. We have registered a complaint. It is too early to comment. Only after the completion of the investigation, we can say who is at fault," a police official told the DC.