4-Year-Old Drowns In Swimming Pool In Rourkela; Family Blames Trainer, Lifeguard

Rourkela: An FIR has been lodged against the lifeguard and the trainer after a four-year-old girl drowned in a swimming pool at Hockey Village near Birsa Munda Stadium in Odisha’s Rourkela.

The victim was a resident of Sector 9 locality.

The incident took place on Saturday evening when Sumeha Singh was undergoing training on swimming along with 15-20 students as her mother waited outside the pool. When she did not come out of the pool once the class got over, her mother enquired about her and was told she may have gone to the washroom. The girl was later found floating in the pool. She rushed to Ispat General Hospital but doctors there declared her brought dead.

It is being alleged that the trainers present at the spot did not pay due attention to the child leading to the unfortunate incident.

Speaking to the media, her father, Sunny Singh, alleged that the child’s life jacket had loosened and got unlocked, but none of the trainers paid attention to her. “When I asked the particular trainer responsible for handling the child, he kept on begging apology,” he said.

Singh, an employee of NTPC-SAIL Power Company Ltd (NSPCL), further stated he rushed to the hospital after getting a desperate call from his wife and found doctors attempting to resuscitate her but in vain. He also alleged that there was a delay in taking the child to the hospital. He later lodged an FIR at Chhend police station, alleging that his daughter drowned due to the negligence of the trainer and lifeguard of the swimming pool.

“We have launched an investigation and we will take action against those responsible,” said sub-inspector, Chhend police station, N Tudu.