Kolkata: A 16-year-old boy, Shivam Kumar Singh, tragically drowned while swimming at the public pool in Rabindra Sarobar on Sunday morning, sparking serious concerns over poor maintenance and lack of safety measures at the popular south Kolkata water body. A resident of Ballygunge, Shivam had visited the lake with two of his friends around 7 a.m. While it remains uncertain whether he knew how to swim, several eyewitnesses and local regulars blamed the incident on dangerous conditions in the pool — including overgrown weeds, unkempt surroundings, and the complete absence of trained lifesavers. Following the incident, police have ordered the immediate closure of the pool until further notice. Incident Unfolded Quickly, Witnesses Say According to those present at the scene, Shivam and his two friends entered the water despite being warned by morning walkers and fellow swimmers to stay out unless they were confident in their swimming abilities. One of the boys exited the pool soon after, but Shivam and another friend continued swimming. Moments later, swimmers noticed one of the boys struggling to stay afloat and quickly pulled him out. However, Shivam had disappeared beneath the surface. Despite frantic efforts by fellow swimmers to locate him, he could not be found. Security personnel at the Lake alerted police, and a team from Rabindra Sarobar police station responded. After an extensive 45-minute search, Shivam was found unconscious and entangled in weeds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. Locals Blame Poor Maintenance, Absence of Lifesavers Shivam’s drowning has triggered outrage among local residents and regular swimmers, who allege that repeated complaints to authorities about the pool’s deteriorating condition have gone unheeded. “The boy’s body was covered in weeds when they pulled him out,” said Somendra Mohan Ghosh, a regular at the Lake. “We have long demanded proper cleaning and deployment of lifesavers, but nothing has been done.” The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), which manages the lake and its surroundings, acknowledged the lack of regulation at the pool. “This is a natural water body, roughly 10 to 12 feet deep, that has been used for swimming for decades,” a KMDA official said. “An SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) will now be drafted in consultation with the police before we consider reopening it.” Questions Over Swimming Ability, Family Devastated Shivam, the fifth among nine siblings, belonged to a modest household. His father, Asok Singh, works at a private firm in Burdwan. News of the tragedy reached the family only when police visited their home. "We heard he could swim," said one of Shivam’s neighbours. "But others say he couldn’t." Conflicting accounts have added to the grief and confusion in the community. Some locals suggested that Shivam’s feet may have become entangled in the dense aquatic weeds, making it impossible for him to resurface. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are awaiting the autopsy report to confirm the cause. Renewed Calls for Safety Reforms Sunday’s tragedy has reignited demands for better supervision and maintenance at Rabindra Sarobar. Locals complain that even during monsoon months, when water levels rise and visibility reduces, no precautionary measures are taken. “Even a basic safety protocol like a lifeguard could have prevented this,” said a tea vendor near the lake. As the city mourns another preventable death, authorities now face increasing pressure to ensure safety measures are implemented before the lake is reopened to the public.