The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has served a notice to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) over the death of a two-year-old after he fell into an open drain in front of his house on Saturday.
Zaki Abbas lived near Rein Bazaar in the Old City area, and had gone missing during the day. After a search that lasted for more than an hour, his body was found floating in the drain.
The petition with the SHRC was filed by MBT leader Amjed Ullah Khan, who stated, "Inspite of repeated requests to the authorities, the open drain was not covered with a slab or with fencing. There was a parapet wall which used to protect the people from falling into the drain. Recently, it was demolished to clean the existing drain. The work was allotted to an agency. After cleaning the open drain, GHMC officials did not take precautionary measures to cover it with a fence or a slab due to which the child fell into it and died."
The former MBT corporator, has also demanded a thorough enquiry into the incident, along with criminal cases against the GHMC officials and contractors concerned. He also demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased.
The residents of the colony live in appalling conditions, as an open drain runs right through the street, with houses on either side.
The smell is unbearable, and the drain is a breeding ground for disease causing mosquitoes.
Based on the petition, SHRC secretary Justice D Subramanyam has reportedly directed GHMC commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy to submit a report by April 10.
You can read our ground report from the area below.