Sharjah toddler falls to death from tower staircase; two families questioned
Sharjah police are questioning two Indian families after a two-year-old Pakistani boy fell to his death from a staircase in a residential tower. CCTV footage is under review.
Two Indian families questioned after toddler's fatal fall in Sharjah tower
Sharjah authorities are questioning two Indian families in connection with the death of a two-year-old Pakistani boy who fell from a staircase area in a residential tower, khaleejtimes.com reports. Advocate Preeta Sriram Madav, a lawyer assisting the families, confirmed they were taken in for questioning on the day of the incident.
The two families hail from the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. According to Preeta, two young girls — one from each family — had been playing with the toddler in the moments before the tragedy. All three families lived as neighbours in the same Sharjah tower.
It was initially believed the boy had wandered out of his family's apartment before falling through an opening near a staircase on an upper floor of the building.
CCTV footage and building safety under scrutiny
Authorities are now reviewing surveillance footage to establish exactly what happened in the minutes leading up to the child's death. Investigators are also interviewing witnesses and inspecting the building's layout to determine how the boy accessed the staircase area and whether existing safety measures met required standards.
A senior Sharjah Police official told Khaleej Times: "The case remains under investigation, and all legal procedures are being followed with child protection authorities and the public prosecution."
Parental responsibility under UAE law
Preeta explained that the families are being questioned because of provisions under UAE law that hold parents accountable for the actions of their underage children. "Since both the girls are under the age of 11, their actions are the responsibility of the parents," she said.
She also advised parents generally to remain vigilant and pay close attention to their children's safety and upbringing.