BENGALURU: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced on Monday a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the family of an 11-year-old boy who lost his life after a rusted gate collapsed on him at the Malleswaram BBMP playground.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday around 4 p.m. when Niranjan, a Class 5 student at a BBMP school, tried to open the gate to access the playground. The gate suddenly toppled, inflicting fatal head injuries. Despite being rushed to KC General Hospital, Niranjan could not be saved.
After visiting the grieving family, Rao stated, “We will conduct a comprehensive investigation and take appropriate action against the contractors and officials responsible for this tragic incident.” He added that BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath has been directed to submit a detailed report on the matter.
While no formal complaints have been filed yet, Rao assured, “We will identify those responsible for this negligence and hold them accountable.”
The minister also announced financial aid of ₹5 lakh from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and an additional ₹5 lakh from the Congress’s Gandhi Nagar Block Congress Committee. Moreover, the R Gundu Rao Foundation, named after the former chief minister, has promised to cover the educational expenses of Niranjan’s younger sister.
The boy’s parents, Vijay Pawar and Priya, originally hail from Gadag district and have resided in the Vivekananda slum near Palace Guttahalli for the past 15 years. Vijay works as a daily wage labourer, while Priya is employed as a domestic worker. They blamed BBMP for their son’s death. “My son died due to BBMP’s negligence. He went to play at that ground almost every day,” Priya said. A case has been filed against BBMP officials under BNS section 106(1) for causing death by negligence.
BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath stated, “A committee will be formed, including the chief engineer and BBMP officials, to investigate the boy’s death. Strict action will be taken against any officer found guilty of negligence.” He also instructed civic body officials to routinely inspect and maintain public spaces, replace rusted gates, and repair broken fences and loose cables to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Bengaluru Central BJP MP PC Mohan visited the site and condemned the BBMP’s negligence, citing previous warnings about the issue. “This tragic incident could have been avoided. BBMP’s negligence has cost an 11-year-old boy his life. I demand a thorough investigation and an immediate audit of all parks to prevent future tragedies. Those responsible must be held accountable,” he said, calling for urgent safety measures to ensure the protection of public spaces.
