The five-year-old boy who fell into a lift shaft in a Topsia building on Tuesday evening died in hospital early on Wednesday.
An elevator is yet to be installed in the shaft, which police said had around 5ft water when the child fell.
A case has been started against the developers of the building following a complaint by the child’s father.
Guddu, who would have turned five this November, was visiting his maternal grandmother, who lives in an apartment on the first floor of the five-storey building in Topsia.
“The child’s father, Firoz Ahmed, has lodged a police complaint against the building’s developer. On investigation, we found that the building was developed by a person and then the promoting work changed hands. But neither developer installed an elevator in the shaft,” said a senior officer at Topsia police station.
The police said the two have reportedly blamed each other for the lapse. “We are yet to verify their statements. Both have been charged under sections of causing death due to negligence,” the officer said.
One of the developers has been identified as Shajid Khan.
Guddu, who was a resident of Kestopur, was playing outside his grandmother’s flat when he fell into the lift shaft. His mother, who had gone to a neighbourhood store, failed to trace her son after returning to her mother’s home.
A search was launched and the boy was found in the waterlogged lift shaft after an hour.
He was taken out of the shaft and rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead a few hours later.
Neighbours at Topsia said the child had come to his grandmother’s house a few days ago and was to return home before Diwali.
Officers from Topsia police station visited the spot and inspected the building. The police suspect the child accidentally fell into the shaft from the first floor.
“We suspect the child drowned as the water in the shaft was around 5ft deep,” said an officer.
The police said even when a building is under construction, the promoter must ensure the lift shaft is well-guarded to prevent any accidental fall.
