A four-day search for a 15-year-old boy who reportedly fell into an open drain while chasing a kite in southeast Delhi’s Jasola ended in tragedy on Wednesday, after rescuers located his body. The teenager, identified as Mithun, had gone missing on Saturday morning, triggering a multi-agency search operation that continued for several days.
According to the information available, Mithun was chasing a kite around 11 am on Saturday when he allegedly fell into an open and unguarded drain in the area. His family raised an alarm after he went missing, and the Delhi Fire Service received information about the incident at around 11.54 am. Two fire tenders were subsequently sent to the location to assist in the search.
The search operation was expanded as rescuers struggled to locate the teenager. Teams from several agencies, including the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Boat Club and the East district administration, were involved in efforts to trace him.
How Did The Search Operation Unfold?
NDRF divers were deployed as part of the operation, with teams searching the drain and surrounding areas. The search continued through Sunday and the following days, but initial efforts did not yield any result. Despite the difficult conditions, rescue teams continued looking for the missing teenager.
The operation finally ended on Wednesday when divers located Mithun’s body at around 1.15 pm. His body was recovered and sent for post-mortem examination. Further details regarding the exact circumstances of his death are expected to emerge after the post-mortem and investigation.
Mithun’s father, Awadhesh Kumar, had earlier spoken about the family’s uncertainty over exactly how the teenager fell into the drain. He reportedly said the drain was open and did not have adequate protection, raising questions about whether the accident could have been prevented.
A video purportedly showing the grieving father searching the drain himself with a stick after rescue teams had failed to find his son also circulated widely on social media. The footage drew attention to the family’s desperation as the search continued for days.
MCD Suspends Junior Engineer
The incident has also prompted action from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Following the accident, the civic body suspended a junior engineer of the South East (Central) Zone for alleged dereliction of duty.
The MCD said disciplinary proceedings were being initiated against the official. The action has brought renewed focus on the condition of open drains and the responsibility of civic authorities to ensure that potentially dangerous stretches are properly covered, fenced or otherwise secured.
The suspension is significant because the drain where the teenager reportedly fell was allegedly open and unguarded. While the investigation and disciplinary proceedings will determine whether specific lapses contributed to the incident, the tragedy has once again highlighted concerns over public safety around uncovered drains.
>Delhi (National Capital)
— Gems (@gemsofbabus_) August 25, 2026
>15 yr old Mithun was chasing kites.
>Fell into an open drain.
>Never came back.
>Still missing after 48 hours.
>Now, his father is entering same drain, desperately trying to find his son.
A completely preventable death, btw. pic.twitter.com/So45OzV7zT
Questions Over Open Drains In Delhi
The recovery of Mithun’s body brings an end to the immediate search operation, but questions surrounding the safety of open drains remain. The incident has raised concerns over whether adequate preventive measures were in place at the location and whether residents had been adequately protected from the hazard.
Open drains can pose serious risks, particularly in densely populated areas where children and pedestrians may come into close proximity to them. Proper covering, barricading, warning signs and regular inspections can help reduce such risks.
For Mithun’s family, however, the four-day search has ended with the loss of a young life. The post-mortem examination is expected to provide further information, while the MCD’s disciplinary proceedings could shed light on whether negligence or failure to maintain the drain contributed to the tragedy.
The incident is likely to keep attention focused on the maintenance of open drains in Delhi and the need for civic agencies to identify and secure hazardous stretches before they result in further accidents.
