Three-Year-Old Drowns in Greater Noida Pond; Villagers Blame Negligence, Ownership Dispute Deepens

Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh): A tragic incident shook Dalelgarh village in Greater Noida’s Dankaur area after a three-year-old child, Devansh, drowned in a pond while playing on Saturday evening. The pond, reportedly over 10 feet deep, has now become the centre of public outrage, with villagers accusing authorities of negligence and demanding accountability.

Devansh had come from Bulandshahr along with his mother Anjali to visit his maternal grandfather. The village was hosting a community feast (bhandara) following the completion of a 41-day religious ceremony at a temple. During the event, the child reportedly wandered near the pond and accidentally fell into the water.

Child Missing for 30 Minutes, Cap Found Floating

According to villagers, Devansh was missing for nearly half an hour before the family began searching for him. The search led to a heartbreaking discovery when his cap was seen floating in the pond. With the help of locals, the child was pulled out, but he had already died by the time he was rescued.

Illegal Mining Allegedly Increased Pond Depth

Villagers alleged that the pond had become dangerously deep due to illegal mining activities carried out over the past several years. They claimed that repeated complaints were made to the police and mining department, but no action was taken.

Residents said the pond was covered with water hyacinth and lacked basic safety measures such as fencing or warning boards, making it extremely hazardous, especially for children.

They further claimed that they had requested cleaning and fencing multiple times, especially after a previous incident in Sector-150, but their appeals were ignored.

Administrative Visit, Compensation Assured

On Monday, SDM Ashutosh Gupta, along with other officials, visited the victim’s family and assured them of financial assistance. The family demanded strict action against officials responsible for negligence and warned that they would stage protests if action was delayed.

New Dispute Over Land Ownership

Following the incident, a fresh controversy emerged over the ownership of the land where the pond is located. The Greater Noida Authority reportedly stated that the land is registered in the name of a local farmer and is not a government pond.

However, villagers disputed the claim, stating that the pond lies in the middle of the village and is surrounded by dense habitation, making it part of gram sabha land. Farmers also argued that their registered land is located far away from the accident site.

The victim’s family alleged that the pond falls under the Greater Noida Authority, which is responsible for its maintenance and safety measures.

District Administration Orders Fencing

After growing outrage, the District Magistrate has directed that fencing be installed around the pond to prevent further mishaps. Meanwhile, local police said no formal complaint has been submitted yet, but action will be taken once a written complaint is received.

The incident has sparked serious questions regarding administrative negligence and unclear land responsibility, with residents demanding to know who will be held accountable for what they are calling a “death pond.”