The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has suspended four civic officials, including the Assistant Commissioner of L Ward, following the death of a man who fell into an open manhole during drainage maintenance work in Mumbai’s Sakinaka area. The action has been taken pending the outcome of a departmental inquiry into the incident.
The victim, identified as Aslam Isaq Shaikh, fell into the uncovered manhole on Khairani Road while sewer maintenance work was underway. Rescue teams from the Mumbai Fire Brigade and the BMC carried out an extensive search operation before recovering his body from another manhole located nearly 100 feet away.
Following the incident, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide ordered the suspension of the Assistant Commissioner along with three engineering officials responsible for the area. A high-level departmental inquiry has also been initiated to determine whether there was any negligence in carrying out the maintenance work.
The civic body has also initiated the process of blacklisting the contractor engaged for the drainage work after preliminary findings suggested that mandatory safety measures, including barricading and warning signs around the open manhole, were not properly implemented.
The tragic incident has raised serious concerns over public safety during monsoon-related civic works in Mumbai. Authorities have directed officials to inspect vulnerable locations across the city and ensure that strict safety protocols are followed during ongoing maintenance activities to prevent similar accidents in the future.
