North Lakhimpur: A nine-year-old boy died after falling into a water-filled reservoir constructed under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) at Madhavpur village under Narayanpur Police Station in Assam’s Lakhimpur district on Monday night.
The deceased was identified as Anshuman Saikia, son of Purnananda Saikia.
According to reports, Anshuman went missing on Monday evening after failing to return home. His family, along with local residents, launched a search and later found him inside the JJM reservoir.
The reservoir’s manhole was reportedly covered only with a piece of plywood. After the boy was pulled out, he was taken to Narayanpur Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The incident has triggered concern among residents, who alleged negligence in securing the incomplete JJM infrastructure. Villagers claimed the reservoir had remained in the same condition, with only a plywood sheet covering the manhole, for the past three years.
Meanwhile, the local unit of the Veer Lachit Sena lodged a police complaint against the contractor associated with the JJM project, alleging negligence and holding him responsible for leaving the reservoir unsecured.
Police are expected to investigate the incident.