Eight-Year-Old Dies In Illegal Water Park Pool In Budaun, Caretaker Held

An eight-year-old boy died due to drowning at a water park operating without permission in Bhasrala village of Uttar Pradesh, exposing serious lapses in safety and regulatory enforcement, police said on Monday.

The victim, Hasnain, had visited the facility with his uncle when the incident occurred two days ago. According to officials, the water park was under construction but still open to the public , without mandatory approvals or safety arrangements such as lifeguards, depth markings, or emergency response systems. Authorities later confirmed it was operating as an illegal water park .

Initially, the family buried the child. However, after the father returned from Delhi and lodged a complaint, the administration intervened. The body was exhumed for postmortem examination to establish the cause of death.

Superintendent of Police (City) Abhishek Kumar Singh said an inquiry found the facility lacked construction approval, trade licence, and safety clearance , making it an unauthorised commercial operation. Following the probe, the district administration sealed the premises immediately , and police registered an FIR.

The caretaker, identified as Nadeem, has been arrested, while the owner is currently away on Haj. Officials clarified that the owner’s absence does not halt legal proceedings, and the case will continue under standard criminal and regulatory procedures. The caretaker is being treated as the immediate operational responsible person.

An “illegal water park” typically refers to facilities operating without statutory permissions and safety compliance, often in violation of zoning and inspection norms. Such setups are not uncommon in semi-urban and rural areas, where enforcement gaps sometimes allow temporary or unregulated recreational pools to function, especially during peak summer months.

Authorities said further investigation will examine inspection failures and administrative oversight lapses that allowed the facility to operate despite being unapproved. The incident has renewed concerns over public safety standards at informal recreational sites.