08 July,2026 09:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
The drain in Kurar, where the search for the missing Malad resident is underway. Pics/By Special Arrangement
A 38-year-old man was reportedly swept away after falling into an overflowing drain in Kurar during heavy rain, prompting a search by police, the fire brigade, and civic disaster management teams.
The missing man has been identified as Yogesh Shivkumar Verma, a resident of Tanaji Nagar in Malad East. Unaware that he had reportedly fallen into the drain, his family approached the Kurar police on Monday and registered a missing person complaint.
Yogesh Shivkumar Verma, the missing resident
Eyewitness Nand Lal Gupta said Verma was walking along the drain when one of his slippers came off in the overflowing water. "When he tried to retrieve it, the other slipper also slipped away. While trying to catch them, he lost his balance and fell into the drain," Gupta said.
"I shouted for help and called nearby people, but by the time they arrived, he had already been swept away by the strong current," he added. Gupta said Kurar police and fire brigade officials later reached the spot and recorded his statement.
Eyewitness Nand Lal Gupta (in white) recounts how Yogesh was swept away in the drain
Senior Inspector Sushilkumar Gaikwad of Kurar police station told mid-day, "During the inquiry, it emerged that the man had fallen into the drain and was swept away by the strong flow of water. Police, disaster management teams, and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials conducted a search operation in the drain, but no trace of him has been found so far." Police sources said the incident occurred around 10 pm on July 4 near Shukla Chawl in Tanaji Nagar.
Residents alleged the accident occurred because there are no protective railings along the drain. "We have repeatedly requested the authorities to install railings, but no action was taken. If railings had been in place, this tragedy might have been prevented," residents said.
Local shopkeeper Sunita Gupta said the drain becomes extremely dangerous during heavy rain. "The water flows with tremendous force and often enters nearby homes and lanes. This is an important shortcut between Appa Pada and Shriram Nagar. The area is densely populated, and schoolchildren also use this route daily," she said.
Another resident said locals had built a makeshift bridge with railings on one side, but long stretches of the drain remain unprotected. "If railings are not installed in time, an even bigger tragedy could occur," the resident warned.
