An eight-year-old child died after falling into a drain amid heavy rain and waterlogging in Cumilla city on Sunday night.
The deceased, Smriti, was daughter of Billal Hossain of Kaliajuri Badarpur area in the city.
Touhidul Anwar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station, confirmed the incident.
The incident took place around 9pm in Chhotora Paschimpara Eidgah and a police team visited the site and that it was being treated as an accident, OC Touhidul said.
Smriti was returning home with her mother after attending a wedding when she slipped from her mother’s hand and fell into a drain through a gap in a submerged broken slab.
Locals rushed to the scene and rescued her from the drain after 10 to 15 minutes. However, she died before being taken to hospital.
They alleged that several drain covers were left open and many slabs remained broken due to ongoing cleaning and renovation work.
They said the hazardous sections became submerged during continuous rain, creating serious risks for pedestrians.
Residents demanded immediate repairs to dangerous drains, installation of safety barriers, and accountability for those responsible.
