When some residents of MVJ Layout near Mahadevapura got a BBMP park, which had remained closed for three days, forcibly opened on Saturday afternoon, they had no inkling of the tragedy that would strike later.
On seeing the gate open, Priya Gowda, 13, along with her two friends, entered the park. She sustained severe head injuries when a slide that had not been fixed to the ground gave away and collapsed on her. She was declared dead on arrival in a hospital. Based on the complaint given by Priya’s parents, the police have taken up a case of criminal negligence against the BBMP official concerned and the contractor.
“The girls entered the park after regular walkers forced the guard to open it even though it had been closed for maintenance,” said Vigyananagar councillor S.G. Nagaraj.
Priya, a class eight student, was a resident of Baddi Krishnappa Layout in Mahadevpura, and she was visiting her friend who lives near the park.
“The park had play equipment that were at least 15 to 20 years old. We wanted to change them which is why new equipment were purchased and kept in the park waiting for installation. The people who were supposed to install them were expected only on Monday, which is why we had kept the park closed. But when the residents insisted that they should be allowed to take a walk, the guard gave in,” Mr. Nagaraj said.
The incident occurred around 4.30 p.m. when Priya was climbing on the ladder of the slide while her two friends were watching her from below. The equipment which was not cemented to the ground gave away, causing her to fall. The slide then came crashing down on Priya, who sustained severe head injuries.
Her two friends ran to Priya’s house to inform her mother, while a few neighbours rushed to the park and took the girl to a hospital in Kaggadasapura.
She, however, was declared dead on arrival, the Mahadevapura police said.
The police said though the park was kept locked, there were no warning signage to indicate that the play equipment were not affixed to the ground and that they could be dangerous.
Seemant Kumar Singh, Additional Commissioner of Police (East) visited the park on Sunday.
Though there was no announcement of a compensation from the BBMP, MLA for K.R. Puram Byrati Basavaraj announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh to the victim’s family.