Pimpri: Boy drowns in Pavana Dam, parents move court against State Government
Pimpri: The parents of an 18-year-old boy, who drowned in the Pavana Dam backwater, have filed a case against the State Government under section 80 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1908 with an intention that a similar incident should not happen with anybody else.
The deceased has been identified as Adwait Varma, who hailed from Delhi and was studying in the second year of BBA at the Symbiosis College. He drowned when he went on a picnic to the dam, along with his friends.
Warning signages should be displayed at tourist spots
Adwait’s uncle and Delhi-based lawyer Suresh Varma said, “There are no signages to alert tourists about a danger to life near the backwater of the Pavana Dam. Therefore, if a child dies at such a tourist spot, children cannot be blamed. A notice has been sent to the State Government through a local lawyer, Nitin Kamble. The government has been held responsible for negligence and for not taking any safety measures. Prevention is better than cure, which is the government’s responsibility, states the notice.
The Pavana Dam is near Lonavala. Many people visit various tourist spots around the hill station to enjoy nature’s beauty. At the same spot, 20-year-old Manish Shankar Sharma died. 25-year-old Mayank Akhilesh Upadhyaya died in February while Sagar Kailas Sathe died in July. This month, Adwait drowned. They all died after drowning.
Advocate Nitin Kamble said, “The State Government may reply to our notice saying that they could not deploy security guards at open places. However, help should be provided from a nearby police station to such popular tourist spots. Life jackets, boats and life guards should be deployed there.”
Compensation will be sought
The Varmas have sought compensation from the State Government. They have also decided to spread awareness about the issue. Adwait’s local guardian Monika Budki said, “Had I known that Adwait was visiting the backwater of Pavana Dam, I would have alerted him about the danger. Adwait’s friends said that the water level rose suddenly. Water was released without giving any prior intimation and Adwait drowned.”
