Criminal case opened after Samara kindergarten flood

In Samara, investigators have opened a criminal case after an emergency that nearly ended in tragedy. On the morning of January 26, in kindergarten No. 58, located on the first floor of the building at 104 Galaktionovskaya Street, a hot water supply pipe burst. This led to a partial collapse of the ceiling in the hall and corridors, where 12 children were present at the time of the accident.

According to one of the mothers, Olga, who brought her child at eight in the morning, water was already pouring near the entrance. Parents with children were asked to enter from the courtyard.

«While we were undressing, the entire hall was covered in steam. The ceiling began to collapse. There was only one teacher in the building!» the woman told 63.RU.

The situation developed rapidly. Steam reached the corridor, and ceiling slabs began to fall there as well. Parents and teachers urgently began gathering the children and moving them to another building. Many belongings and shoes were left in the flooded locker room.

Who is to Blame? Versions and the Criminal Case

The paradox of the situation is that the building, according to residents, recently underwent major repairs.

«The radiators are new, all the utilities are new,» Olga noted.

However, the heating supply company T Plus has already stated that its utilities are in good working order and has sent a request to the management company. The Samara city hall confirmed that the leak occurred on internal utilities in one of the apartments and assured that the consequences in the kindergarten will be eliminated.

These explanations proved insufficient. Investigators from the Investigative Committee for the Samara Region, on the orders of head Pavel Oleinik, have opened a criminal case under the article on negligence (Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The prosecutor«s office of the Leninsky District has also begun an inspection, paying special attention to the quality of the recent major repairs.

The investigation must now determine which officials allowed violations in the design, conduct of repair work, or operation of engineering systems. This will determine whether the emergency situation is classified as an accident or as criminal negligence that endangered the children«s lives.