Locked inside flat, 5-year-old falls to death

A five-year-old boy fell to his death from the 22nd-floor balcony of his home in a high-rise in Gurugram’s Sector 62, police said on Sunday.

- Debashish Karmakar

The child, who was accidentally locked inside the apartment, is believed to have climbed onto the balcony railing in an attempt to seek help from neighbours.

The incident occurred at Pioneer Presidia between 5.30pm and 5.50pm on Saturday, shortly after the boy returned from the park with his caretaker. Police said the child ran ahead, entered the house and slammed the door, activating the flat’s “auto-lock” mechanism and shutting the caretaker out.

The boy's father is a builder and his mother a doctor, both of whom were at work at the time. Police said the five-year-old was a special needs child and was alone inside the flat when the door locked.