India, Sept. 18 -- LUCKNOW A seven-year-old boy was feared drowned after he slipped into an open drain while playing in the Hussainganj area of the city on Wednesday evening and got swept away by the strong current of rain water, triggering a rescue operation. The body of the victim, Veer, was yet to be recovered, said officials.

Locals expressed anger at the Lucknow Municipal Corporation's negligence, saying: "Every spell of rain brings danger because of open drains and waterlogging, but no action is taken."

Police and fire departments officials were the first to reach the site and launch the rescue. ACP (Hazratganj) Vikas Jaiswal, along with his team, expanded the search towards the Haider canal sewage treatment plant (STP) on the 109...