In a freak tragedy, a six-year-old boy died after a birdbath allegedly fell on him while his photo was being taken at Bonsai Park in Lalbagh on Monday. The boy Vikram, son of a powerloom factory worker Kumar and homemaker wife Revathi, was a resident of Srirampura and studying in class 1 at a BBMP school. He had come to the garden with his relatives for a picnic in the afternoon.
The boy ’s kin blamed negligence by Lalbagh authorities claiming that the birdbath was not fixed properly. However, the garden authorities blamed the family claiming he was made to sit on the birdbath, toppling it. Joint Director of Horticulture (Parks and Gardens) M Jagadeesh said, “The cylindrical structure is fixed to the pedestal with white cement. It wouldn’t have fallen unless the family made the child sit on it.” The police said that in her complaint, the boy’s aunt Mithila said that around 2.30pm five from their family were at Bonsai Park and she was taking a photo of Vikram standing next to the birdbath. She said he only touched the base supporting the structure but it fell on him.
He received head injuries and was rushed to a private hospital, where he was declared brought dead. His body was shifted to KIMS hospital for post mortem. “We have taken up a case of unnatural death. If we find negligence on anyone’s part, we will take action,” a senior police officer said. Later, Mithila, ayurvedic sciences student, told Express, “Lalbagh authorities are claiming that Vikram sat on the birdbath and it fell. How could he climb up a four-feet high birdbath? It is not true. Even his cousin Rakshith was sitting next to him. Nothing happened to him. It is a clear case of negligence as the staff did not fix the birdbath properly.”
‘People were taking snaps, not helping us’
Mithila, the boy’s aunt, said Vikram went near the birdbath and asked her to take a photo. “I was taking photos of him and he just touched the birdbath and it fell on his face. I cried for help but no one, including the guards, came. People were taking pictures and recording the scene instead of helping us take him to the hospital.”