Child rights panel orders detailed probe into drowning of boy in Kochi flat’s swimming pool

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has instructed the police to conduct a detailed investigation into the alleged drowning of a six-year-old boy in the swimming pool of an apartment complex at Kaloor here on August 17.

The Commission issued the instruction after visiting the pool and its premises on Monday (September 21). According to an official release, the Commission observed that, prima facie, there were lapses on the part of the apartment owners’ association in maintaining a swimming pool close to the children’s play area without adequate safety measures.

Stating that treating the tragedy merely as a fatal accident would send the wrong message to society, the Commission noted that strict inspections were required to determine whether similar conditions existed in other residential complexes in the State.