NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a boy after falling into an uncovered drain in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a boy after falling into an uncovered drain in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a 11-year-old boy died after falling into an uncovered drain in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh on 19th February 2026. Reportedly, the residents had made complaints to the local authorities regarding the uncovered under-construction drain but no action was taken.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of human rights violation of the victim. Therefore, it has issued notices to the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include status of the compensation, if any, provided to the family of the victim boy.

According to the media report, carried on 20th February 2026, the boy was returning home after purchasing stationery items when his bicycle slipped into the open drain which was hidden behind dense bushes at an under-construction site.