2-year-old dies after fall from 5th-floor flat in West Bengal

KOLKATA: A two-year-old boy died after falling from the balcony of their fifth-floor home at a premium housing complex opposite City Centre II in New Town on Wednesday evening.
The boy, Susmit Biswas, was reportedly playing alone on the balcony, which had large gaps in the grilles and also a step-like structure, which a child could climb up, police said. Beyond the three-feet-high grille, the balcony has an extended space to keep potted plants. This space at the child's home was empty and so, couldn't reportedly check his fall.
"It is unclear how the child fell down. The child could have possibly slipped between the grilles while playing. It is also possible that he had climbed up the step-like structure and toppled over the handrail," said a senior officer of Bidhannagar City Police. He added that the child fell on its head. Neighbours and security guards had taken him to the nearest Charnock Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. "He didn't have many injuries on his face but the skull had ruptured. He also suffered multiple internal haemorrhages and was already dead by the time we could get him to the hospital. It's an extremely tragic incident and is also a reminder to all residents to maintain caution while allowing children on the balcony by themselves," said a resident of the complex, Club Town Gateway.
The child's father, Subhendu Biswas, is a businessman and the mother a homemaker. They had bought the flat (5B) in Block 6 merely six months ago. Subhendu was away at work when the incident took place around 5pm. "The mother was possibly in the kitchen. Only she can tell how the accident might have taken place but she is not in a state to speak," said another neighbour.
An officer of Eco Park police station said with no complaint coming in, they started an unnatural death case but preliminary investigation suggested it to be an accident. "But we will question the mother, security guards and neighbours. We are also checking CCTV footage," said an officer.
"There hasn't been any accident so far. But this has made us reconsider whether the height of the balcony grilles should be increased or not," said a resident.