Delhi toddler’s death: Irrigation dept had urged MCD to take over Mukundpur drain, say sources

The Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department had written to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) last year, asking it to take over management of the Mukundpur drain where a two-year-old girl fell to her death on Sunday evening, government sources said.

The drain, located between Gujjar Chowk and Ramlila Ground, falls under the category of smaller drains, which are typically maintained by the MCD, the sources said on Tuesday.

“It is requested to take care of the cited drains and maintenance at your end please to avoid any inconvenience to people residing there,” the I&FC department had stated in its communication.

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Despite the request, the MCD did assume responsibility for the drain’s maintenance, sources claimed. They noted that as the drain is less than four feet wide, its cleaning and maintenance is the responsibility of the civic body.

Following the incident, a junior engineer of the I&FC Department has been dismissed on the directions of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, according to a statement issued by her office.

Expressing grief over the child’s death, Gupta described the incident as “extremely distressing and alarming.”