Unrestricted Access to Pool Blamed for Boy’s Drowning

Speaking on pool safety norms followed in large gated communities, MyHome Vihanga vice-president Praveen Rao said the presence of trained personnel is non-negotiable. “One designated lifeguard and one security guard, deployed round-the-clock in two shifts, are mandatory for any society with a functional swimming pool. This is a basic safety requirement one must follow,” he said.

He said societies must also ensure the availability of children’s safety equipment, such as inflatable jackets or floatation devices, strict access control, and clearly defined pool timings.

“Major lapses usually happen when residents enter the pool area outside designated hours or when parents say they are ‘just watching’ and step away, either for a walk or to attend phone calls. Leaving children unsupervised, even for a few minutes, is often the reason which could turn fatal,” he said.

On surveillance, Praveen Rao pointed out practical limitations. “Due to concerns over women’s privacy and modesty, cameras are usually not placed to directly cover the pool. However, surrounding access areas should always be monitored,” he explained.

Highlighting similar concerns, My Home Avatar joint secretary Pujitha Balireddy said parental vigilance plays a crucial role in preventing such tragedies. “As a mother of two children, I would place nearly 80 per cent of the responsibility on parents. Children must be clearly instructed not to enter swimming pools or even lifts without parental supervision. That alone can prevent many accidents. I do this with my kids,” she said.

Pujitha, however, stressed that responsibility does not end with parents. “Management and RWAs also have a duty of care. In our community, we conduct internal meetings regularly and issue clear instructions regarding pool usage. We ensure the presence of two lifeguards and one security guard, as there are three separate pools — for toddlers, men, and women,” she said.

She explained that while the toddler pool is officially restricted to children below three years, enforcement on the ground is stricter. “Our guards ensure that children entering the pool are above seven years of age and that parental supervision is mandatory at all times,” she added.

She also stressed the importance of regular maintenance and safety audits. “Annual third-party checks are conducted to assess parameters such as pH levels, bleaching, filtration systems, and overall water hygiene. These checks are essential to ensure both safety and health compliance,” she said.

Ashish Kumar, the treasurer of PBEL City, said that the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) is responsible for security arrangements at the gated community. “The RWA hires a private security agency, which in turn deploys guards based on the size of the community and the population of residents,” he said.

He said ensuring adequate manpower at sensitive locations like swimming pools is a basic duty of RWAs, and any lapse in deployment or supervision can expose both the association and the security agency to liability in the event of an incident.

According to a source, no security guard was present at the pool at the time of the incident, though the gated community had hired them for it. The absence of supervision, coupled with unrestricted access to the pool area, is being seen as a critical factor that may have led to the tragedy. Additionally, association members agree that shared responsibility failures have put children at risk in residential complexes across the city.