Residents allege even a gentle push would result in the screens crumbling. They had taken up the issue with the builders, but they never responded.
An eight-year-old boy was seriously injured when he fell down two floors through a ventilation shaft in Jaypee Wish Town Klassic, an upscale residential society in Sector 134 in Noida, yesterday evening.
Around 7 pm, Aarav was playing when he accidentally hit the ventilation screen built in the middle of the park. The cement screen gave away and as a result the boy fell down, 20 to 25 feet, to hit the floor of the building’s double basement. He sustained serious injuries in his head and limbs.
The firemen, aided by neighbours, managed to retrieve the boy after an hour. He was rushed to nearby Jaypee Hospital. Till the time of this report, the boy was still in a serious condition.
The child’s father, Yashpal Beniwal, and at least 70 neighbours filed a case against the builder and the Japyee management.
The police has registered an FIR against Manoj Gaur, managing director of Jayprakash Associates, and two members of facility management group, Ajit Sharma and Ravindra Badhesra.
They have been booked under IPC Sections 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others).
The residents complained of poor quality material used in the construction of the cement screen that fenced a 6 square feet ventilation shaft. Residents complained that they were always worried about the screens which were brittle. “Even a gentle push would result in the screens crumbling. We had taken up the issue with the builders, but they never responded,” the residents alleged.
Sandeep Malakar, a resident, said, “The accident could have happened to anyone, and the builder is solely responsible for it.” The residents said besides this specific case they were, in general, suffering because of the poor quality of construction.
City Spidey approached Jaypee Associates and they were unavailable for comments.
Hansraj Bhadauria, Station Officer of Sector 135 (Expressway) police station, said investigation will be initiated and appropriate action will follow.
