Lucknow: 6-year-old crushed to death as iron gate collapses at UP day care centre
Synopsis
A six-year-old boy is dead in Lucknow after a heavy iron gate at a UP government-run day care centre for children with special needs collapsed on him. His family says they had repeatedly warned authorities about the gate's deteriorating condition — and were ignored. It is the second such child fatality from a collapsing iron gate in Uttar Pradesh this month alone.
Key Takeaways
A six-year-old boy was killed on 30 May 2025 in Lucknow after a heavy iron gate at the Bachpan Day Care Centre fell on him.
The boy was playing near the gate at around 9 am and was declared dead on arrival at hospital.
His mother and relatives allege the gate's dilapidated condition had been reported to authorities multiple times, with no action taken.
SDM Manoj Singh confirmed a CCTV investigation is under way and assured the family of administrative support.
The Bachpan Day Care Centre is a Uttar Pradesh government facility for children with special needs and persons with disabilities.
A similar incident claimed the life of a five-year-old boy in Noida earlier in May 2025 — the second such fatality in UP within a month.
A six-year-old boy was killed on Saturday, 30 May in Lucknow after a heavy iron gate at the Bachpan Day Care Centre collapsed on him while he was playing nearby. The incident has drawn sharp attention to alleged official negligence, with the child's family claiming repeated complaints about the gate's deteriorating condition had gone unheeded by the authorities.
What Happened
The boy, who had come to visit relatives in the area, went out to play at around 9 am. He was playing near the entrance gate of the day care centre when the structure — described by witnesses as already in a dilapidated state — suddenly gave way and fell on him. Due to the gate's considerable weight, the child died on the spot. He was rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Family Speaks Out on Negligence
The boy's mother said: 'My son was playing right there. The gate was in a dilapidated condition. Everyone had been informing the authorities, but the government did not listen. When the child touched the gate, it fell on my child.' A relative echoed her account, stating that the authorities had been repeatedly informed about the gate's condition but failed to act.
What Authorities Said
Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manoj Singh confirmed that children regularly play near the gate of the centre. He said CCTV footage showed the child attempting to open the gate at the time of the incident, adding that the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation. Singh assured that the family would receive all necessary assistance from the administration.
About the Day Care Centre
The Bachpan Day Care Centre is a Uttar Pradesh government initiative designed to serve children with special needs and persons with disabilities. The fact that a government-run facility's infrastructure allegedly failed despite prior warnings has intensified scrutiny of maintenance protocols at such institutions.
A Troubling Pattern
This is the second such incident in Uttar Pradesh within the same month. Earlier in May 2025, a five-year-old boy was crushed to death in Noida after a heavy iron gate collapsed on him while he played near his home. In that case too, locals reported the child had climbed onto the gate when it gave way. Two child fatalities from collapsing iron gates within weeks in the same state point to a systemic failure in infrastructure upkeep — both in public spaces and residential localities.
Point of View
Not the disease. What is missing is any indication of accountability for the officials who reportedly received and ignored the warnings. Until UP's public infrastructure management is audited with consequences attached, these tragedies will recur.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the six-year-old boy die in Lucknow?
The boy died on 30 May 2025 after a heavy iron gate at the Bachpan Day Care Centre in Lucknow collapsed on him while he was playing nearby at around 9 am. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital due to the severity of his injuries.
What is the Bachpan Day Care Centre in Lucknow?
The Bachpan Day Care Centre is a Uttar Pradesh government initiative that provides services to children with special needs and persons with disabilities. The centre came under scrutiny after its iron gate — allegedly in a long-deteriorating condition — collapsed and killed a six-year-old child.
Did the family warn authorities about the gate's condition?
Yes, according to the boy's mother and a relative, the gate's dilapidated condition had been reported to the authorities on multiple occasions before the accident. They allege the government failed to act on these complaints despite repeated requests.
What action has the administration taken?
Sadar SDM Manoj Singh confirmed that CCTV footage is being reviewed to determine the exact cause of the collapse and that an investigation is under way. He also assured the family of all necessary administrative support, though no arrests or disciplinary actions have been reported.
Has a similar incident happened before in Uttar Pradesh?
Yes, earlier in May 2025, a five-year-old boy was crushed to death in Noida after a heavy iron gate collapsed on him while he was playing near his home. The two incidents within the same month in UP have raised concerns about infrastructure maintenance in public and residential spaces.
