SMC officials booked for culpable homicide after death of toddler in storm drain

Surat : In a heart-wrenching incident highlighting gross negligence, four officials of the Surat Municipal Corporation’s (SMC) west zone have been booked for culpable homicide following the death of two-year-old Kedar Sharadbhai Vegad. The toddler fell into an uncovered storm drain in New Katargam area, ultimately losing his life due to drowning and asphyxiation.

The incident unfolded on February 5 when Kedar, accompanied by his mother on a routine trip to the market, slipped away in pursuit of an ice cream treat. In a moment of dreadful misfortune, he stumbled into the gaping void of an open storm drain, its cover conspicuously absent on the 120-foot road.

What ensued was a frantic search effort by over 50 personnel from the fire department, combing through storm drainage lines extending up to 700 meters from the scene throughout the night. Despite exhaustive efforts, Kedar remained elusive. The following day saw the deployment of an NDRF team from Vadodara, equipped with oxygen masks, diving into the drain’s treacherous waters. It was not until 24 agonizing hours later that Kedar’s lifeless body was discovered at the Variav pumping station, more than a kilometer and a half away from where he fell.

The family’s grief was compounded by the delayed response from authorities, prompting them to demand justice before accepting Kedar’s body for funeral rites. Their persistence, backed by public outcry and community protests, finally compelled the Amroli police to register a case of culpable homicide against key officials of the Surat Municipal Corporation’s sewerage department.

Surat Mayor Daxesh Mavani acknowledged the severity of the incident, confirming that the Municipal Commissioner has issued show cause notices to Tejas T. Patel (Executive Engineer), Nitin M. Chaudhary (Deputy Engineer), Rakesh T. Patel (Junior Engineer), and Chetan P. Rana (Supervisor). Concerns were raised about Executive Engineer Tejas Patel’s alleged presence near the scene during the rescue operation, further fueling public outrage.

Dr. Rajesh Patel, who conducted the initial postmortem examination, concluded that Kedar’s tragic demise resulted from drowning and asphyxiation. Samples have been sent for further analysis to ascertain any additional contributing factors.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for accountability within the Surat Municipal Corporation, raising critical questions about infrastructure safety and emergency response protocols.