Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh — Kanhaiya Chaurasiya, a Class 5 student, fell to his death Wednesday when his bicycle plunged into an open cable trench just two kilometers from his home in Mundera. The 12-year-old had received the bike as a gift from his father only four days earlier.

Police at Chiluatal station said Kanhaiya lost control of the bicycle around midday while riding with friends. Protruding iron rods in the trench pierced his stomach nearly seven inches deep. Locals pulled him out and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Shyam Sunder, Kanhaiya’s father and a vegetable vendor, borrowed money from friends to buy the bicycle Saturday after his son begged for one like his friends’. "This is gross negligence by the Gorakhpur Development Authority and district administration," Sunder told reporters. "If a trench is left open, it should be properly covered or barricaded. Nothing was done, and it cost my son his life."

Family members performed the last rites Thursday after a post-mortem exam released the body. They have demanded accountability from officials responsible for the site.

Station House Officer Suraj Singh at Chiluatal police station said an inquiry is underway. Authorities claim the trench had been closed but was dug open by miscreants, according to police statements.

Additional District Magistrate Anjani Kumar announced directives to cover all open trenches immediately. He confirmed a letter was sent to the state government requesting financial aid for the family.

The trench, part of a cable-laying project, sat unmarked and unprotected near a busy residential path. Witnesses described chaos as children screamed and adults tried to free the boy. One neighbor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said such hazards have worried the community for weeks.

Shyam Sunder recounted the joy of Saturday’s purchase turning to horror. Kanhaiya pedaled proudly with friends that afternoon, eyes lit up after weeks of pleading. By evening Wednesday, the new bike lay twisted beside the trench.

Local leaders visited the family Thursday, promising swift action. Gorakhpur Development Authority officials have not commented publicly beyond the police account. The inquiry will examine maintenance logs and site security, Singh said.

India sees dozens of such accidents yearly from urban infrastructure work. In Gorakhpur alone, residents report multiple near-misses at similar sites. Kanhaiya’s death has sparked calls for stricter safety protocols across Uttar Pradesh.

The boy’s mother wailed during the cremation, clutching his schoolbag. "He was our only son," she said. Neighbors lit candles along the road, a grim marker for the spot.

Officials face pressure as news spreads. Kumar reiterated the covering orders apply citywide, with inspections starting Friday. The family’s aid request awaits state approval.