The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Toddler falls into sump, rescued

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 06, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Toddler falls into sump, rescued

A. Subramani

Anita with her son Daswant who fell into an open sump on the Madras High Court campus on Thursday. — Photo: Shaju John

CHENNAI: Daswanth, 15 months old, had a narrow escape after falling into a sump on the Madras High Court campus on Thursday.

While on a stroll with his uncle Karthik, the toddler stepped on a partly open lid and fell into the six-foot sump. Luckily, Karthik also fell into the sump. By the time Karthik overcame the shock of falling into the hip-deep water, the child was gasping for breath.

"The baby went under water and surfaced at least three times before my son got to his feet and lifted him out," said Santhanam who, along with his daughter, Anitha, and others had come to the Small Causes Court in connection with an accident claims case.

The family was waiting for their case to be taken up. Since Daswanth was restless and crying, Karthik took him for a walk. Ms. Anitha said, "Only Goddess Bhooma Devi saved my child."

Since Daswanth was bleeding from an injury to his forehead, he was rushed to the High Court dispensary for first aid.

Even after the incident, other sumps nearby remained open or covered by wire meshes.

An elderly person had fallen into a sump-like structure in the vicinity only recently, an advocate said. Since the Family Court complex was nearby, many aged people and children frequented the place daily, he added.

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