Sharjah: A 15-month-old girl plunged to her death in Sharjah on Wednesday.
The Omani girl fell from a six-floor apartment balcony in Moeilah area, a Sharjah Police official told Gulf News.
The incident happened at about 9pm.
Eyewitnesses reported the incident to the operations room following which a team from Al Gharb police station went to the spot and rushed the girl to Al Qasimi hospital, where she was declared dead.
Police investigations revealed that the girl had climbed on to a chair and fell over the balcony’s railing.
Her parents are being questioned on suspicion of negligence because the child had been left unattended. She was playing in the apartment and had been venturing into the balcony.
The incident is the latest in a series of fatal falls of children from high-rises in the emirate, which has led authorities to tighten safety rules and create awareness among parents.
Officials warn that despite new safety rules, parental neglect can lead to such tragedies. Some of the victims had been left alone at home by parents.
Colonel Khalifa Kalander, Director of Comprehensive Police Stations at Sharjah Police, warned parents not to leave their children unattended at home and to instruct housemaids to keep a close watch on them.
Hazardous items should also be kept away from children’s reach, including kitchen knives and gas cylinders.
Col Kalander urged residents to regularly lock their windows and to place aluminium barriers at windows to protect children. People should also take care to store dangerous chemicals out of reach of children. These include detergents and other cleaning products.
Woman falls from 10th floor apartment
In an earlier incident, a 28-year-old Filipina died after falling from the balcony of her 10th floor apartment in Buhaira area last Saturday.
Eyewitnesses told police that the incident happened at around 3.30am
A team from the Criminal and Investigation Department (CID) rushed to the building and moved the body to the forensic laboratory for an autopsy.
The victim was living in a sharing accommodation with other Filipinas.
Buhairah Police have launched an investigation into the cause of death.
