Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Sunday ordered a probe after a person fell into 40 to 50 feet deep borewell in Keshopur area of the city.
In a note to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, the Minister said, “A deeply unfortunate incident has taken place in Delhi today, where someone has fallen into an abandoned borewell in the Keshopur Sewerage Treatment Plant.”
“This borewell was on land that had been handed over to Delhi Metro in 2020, nonetheless it is our responsibility to examine if any lapses have taken place on the part of Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and to ensure that no such incident takes place in Delhi in the future,” she said.
Atishi directed the Chief Secretary to conduct a time-bound enquiry into the incident and take strong and exemplary action against any officers found responsible.
She also asked to ensure that all government and private abandoned borewells to be welded and sealed immediately and compliance reported to her within 48 hours.
The Minister’s direction came after she visited the site of the incident and tool stock of the rescue operations.
“An incident of a person falling into a borewell has come to light in Keshopur. The borewell was in a locked room. Prima facie it seems that an attempt was made to enter by forcefully breaking the lock. Police will investigate it,” she wrote on X after visiting the site.
According to Delhi Fire Services Director Atul Garg, a message was received at around 1 am that a person fell down in water treatment plant in DJB, Keshopur Mandi and five fire tenders were rushed to the spot.