Haryana boy, 8, falls into open drain, man's quick intervention saves his life

A man rescued an eight-year-old boy moments after he fell into an open drain in Panipat.Haryana boy falls into open drain, man’s quick intervention saves his lifeNew Delhi,Oct 16, 2026 09:47 ISTAn eight-year-old boy fell into an open drain on a muddy stretch in Haryana’s Panipat after stepping onto a section without a covering slab. CCTV footage captured the spine-chilling moment as a man rushed to pull the child out of the drain, narrowly averting a potentially fatal accident.The boy was walking along the stretch when he lost his balance and plunged into the open drain. The fall happened in an instant, leaving little time for the child to react.The man, who noticed what had happened, immediately rushed to his aid and pulled him out.The boy’s rescue, however, has done little to ease concerns about the condition of the road. A section of the drain remains uncovered, while mud covers parts of the street, adding to the risks faced by people passing through the area. What makes the incident particularly concerning is that it is not the first such accident on the road. Just a month ago, a woman was swept into a drain on the same stretch. She was rescued after considerable difficulty.Despite that incident, the latest accident has once again raised questions about whether adequate steps have been taken to prevent people from falling into the drain. Two incidents on the same road within a month have put the spotlight on the need for urgent safety measures. - Ends