Bengaluru Police Investigate Tragic Death of 10-Year-Old Girl Found in Apartment Swimming Pool

BENGALURU: A tragic incident unfolded in an upscale apartment complex off Varthur Road when a 10-year-old girl was discovered dead in the swimming pool. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined, with drowning and electrocution being the two possible scenarios under investigation.

The autopsy conducted on the girl’s body did not provide conclusive evidence regarding the cause of death. The police are now waiting for the electrical inspector’s report on the forensic examination of the viscera samples.

The accident occurred around 8pm at Prestige Lakeside Habitat apartment, off Varthur-Gunjur road, while the girl, identified as Manya Damerla, a fifth-grade student at a private school, was playing with two friends in the pool. The water level was reportedly only around 6 inches deep. Tragically, she suddenly fell into the water and was found lifeless. Remarkably, there were no visible injury marks on her body.

Her father, Rajesh Kumar Damerla, a software engineer residing in the 17th tower of the apartment complex, initially suspected drowning as the cause of his daughter’s death. However, he has demanded a thorough investigation into the tragedy to uncover the truth. Other residents of the complex also voiced concerns, suggesting that the incident might be a case of electrocution, as there have been previous reports of people experiencing electric shocks near the pool. Following the completion of the autopsy, the Damerla family took the body to their hometown in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, for the final rites. Manya was their only child.

Pool Area Lacks CCTV Coverage, Hindering Investigation

Rajesh shared his account of the incident, stating that he and Manya had been indoors until Thursday evening due to the holidays. In the evening, they went outside, with his daughter joining her friends near the pool while he went for a walk within the apartment complex. Within minutes, he received a distressing call from a neighbor informing him that Manya had been found submerged in the pool and had been rushed to the hospital. Devastatingly, she was declared dead upon arrival.

Rajesh expressed his desire for justice for his daughter and raised concerns about potential foul play or negligence. He emphasized the importance of determining the root cause of the tragedy and holding responsible parties accountable. While he acknowledged that his daughter could not be brought back to life, he called for a thorough police investigation to ensure the safety of other children in the apartment complex. He also noted the growing anxiety among young parents following the incident.

Shivakumar Ganare, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield), confirmed that an unnatural death case had been registered and mentioned the reliance on the autopsy and forensic reports for further insights. When asked about the possibility of electrocution, Ganare explained that typically, electrocution victims would display entry and exit wounds on their bodies, which was not the case here. Nevertheless, he added that this conclusion was not final. The absence of CCTV coverage in the pool area has posed challenges to the ongoing investigation.