A seven-year-old boy died of electrocution in Gurugram on Tuesday afternoon after he came into contact with an iron staircase outside a shanty in the Sector 52 slum area. The police have handed over the body to the family following a post-mortem examination and have launched an investigation into the incident.
Victim Identified as Firoz Sheikh from West Bengal
According to the police, the deceased was identified as Firoz Sheikh, a native of Khisar village in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district. Firoz was the only son of his parents. His father, Paltu Sheikh, told authorities that the family had been living in the Sector 52 slums for the past four years, where he works as a housekeeping employee.
According to The Tribune, the family reported that Firoz was bathing in the rain outside his home on Tuesday afternoon. The shanty is a two-storey structure, and an iron staircase had been installed outside the building.
Police Investigation Underway After Fatal Incident
The police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy's death. After the post-mortem examination, the body was handed over to the grieving family.
According to The Tribune, the incident occurred in the Sector 52 slum area, where many families live in temporary structures. The iron staircase that caused the fatal electrocution was located outside the family's shanty.
Our Take: A Preventable Tragedy That Demands Action
This is a heartbreaking incident that should never have happened. A seven-year-old boy lost his life simply because he came into contact with a metal staircase that was somehow electrified. In our view, this tragedy highlights the dangerous living conditions in slum areas where basic safety measures are often ignored.
The fact that Firoz was the only son of his parents makes this loss even more devastating. To put it plainly, authorities in Gurugram need to conduct thorough safety inspections in slum areas to prevent such incidents. Loose or exposed wiring near metal structures is a known hazard, and it is unacceptable that families living in these conditions have to fear for their children's safety while playing in the rain.
We hope the investigation leads to accountability and, more importantly, to concrete steps that ensure no other family has to go through this pain.