Mumbai manhole death: BMC suspends 4 officials, orders inquiry
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Mumbai: Hours after a passerby, Aslam Shaikh, died after falling into an open manhole on Khairani Road in Sakinaka, Andheri East, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) suspended four officials and ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Those suspended include the Assistant Commissioner of the 'L' Ward, Dhanaji Herlekar, along with an assistant maintenance engineer, a junior maintenance engineer and a representative of the Sewerage Operations Department. The suspensions will remain in effect pending the outcome of the inquiry.
BMC Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide also directed the immediate formation of a high-level inquiry committee, headed by the Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs), with instructions to submit a comprehensive report within seven days.
In the wake of the tragedy, the civic body has ordered a 100 per cent safety inspection of all manholes across Mumbai's 26 administrative wards within the next eight days.
Shaikh fell into the manhole while drain maintenance and desilting work was being carried out by a private contractor. The manhole cover had reportedly been removed without adequate barricades or safety warning signs. He accidentally stepped into the stormwater drain and was swept away by the strong current.
Following the incident, BMC officials, Mumbai Fire Brigade personnel and local police rushed to the spot and launched an extensive rescue operation.
During the initial search, rescuers recovered Shaikh's umbrella and footwear. Given the force of the water inside the drainage system, authorities feared he had been washed away. After nearly four hours of continuous efforts, the Mumbai Fire Brigade traced and recovered his body downstream.
Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi confirmed Shaikh's death and said the body had been sent to a nearby hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ritu Tawde admitted that the municipal corporation itself was unaware of the exact nature of the work being carried out at the site. She assured that strict action would be taken against those found responsible for negligence.
The incident comes amid heavy rains that have caused widespread waterlogging across Mumbai, once again bringing the issue of open manholes and civic safety under scrutiny. The tragedy has sparked widespread public outrage over alleged administrative lapses.
The issue was also raised in the Maharashtra Assembly, where Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal made a statement following directions from Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.
Narwekar said merely suspending the officials was not sufficient and called for a case of culpable homicide to be registered against the BMC officers for alleged negligence. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar also made a similar demand.
With IANS inputs