KOLKATA: The New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) on Wednesday advised residents of high-rise buildings to install durable safety grilles or window guards on every window to ensure children’s safety. The advisory comes in the wake of recent incidents in which a two-year-old boy and a 34-year-old techie died after falling from balconies of New Town high-rises.
The advisory suggests vertical railings instead of horizontal bars on balconies so that kids cannot climb on them. Balconies and staircase railings should be designed keeping children in mind. Safety grilles or window guards should be strong, durable and installed properly to ensure that they don’t come off or become loose. “Windows should be properly covered with grilles so that children cannot sneak out and fall. We will discuss with RWAs on following the advisory,” said Samaresh Das, chairperson of New Town Forum and News. “The advisory should be followed by all. It could help in prevention of untoward incidents,” said New Town Welfare Fraternity secretary Samir Gupta.
NKDA advised there should be regular maintenance checks of the grilles and balconies by resident welfare associations. The advisory also suggested that residents, especially parents, could be educated through awareness campaigns. This could include safety tips such as not leaving children unattended near windows. “Accidents can be prevented by incorporating child safety designs and features in the buildings,” said an NKDA official.
The advisory suggests vertical railings instead of horizontal bars on balconies so that kids cannot climb on them. Balconies and staircase railings should be designed keeping children in mind. Safety grilles or window guards should be strong, durable and installed properly to ensure that they don’t come off or become loose. “Windows should be properly covered with grilles so that children cannot sneak out and fall. We will discuss with RWAs on following the advisory,” said Samaresh Das, chairperson of New Town Forum and News. “The advisory should be followed by all. It could help in prevention of untoward incidents,” said New Town Welfare Fraternity secretary Samir Gupta.
NKDA advised there should be regular maintenance checks of the grilles and balconies by resident welfare associations. The advisory also suggested that residents, especially parents, could be educated through awareness campaigns. This could include safety tips such as not leaving children unattended near windows. “Accidents can be prevented by incorporating child safety designs and features in the buildings,” said an NKDA official.
