Mumbai: BMC suspends four officials after fatal Sakinaka manhole tragedy

Aslam Shaikh, the deceased. Pic/By Special Arrangement

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday suspended four officials, ordered a high-level inquiry and announced the blacklisting of a contractor within hours of a 55-year-old man drowning after allegedly falling into an unguarded manhole during civic work at Sakinaka. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide termed the incident a "grave oversight", ordered a citywide inspection to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.

Fire Brigade personnel carry out a rescue operation after Aslam Shaikh, 55 allegedly fell into an open manhole in Sakinaka, Andheri. Pic/PTI

Action taken by the BMC

>> Four officials suspended pending inquiry.
>> Contractor to be blacklisted.
>> Four-member inquiry committee constituted.
>> Report to be submitted within seven days.
>> Citywide inspection of all manholes ordered within eight days.

The spot where the incident occurred in Sakinaka. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav

Who has been suspended?

>> Dhanaji Herlekar, assistant commissioner, L ward
>> Deepak Chaugule, assistant/sub-engineer (maintenance)
>> Abhijit Chaugule, junior engineer (maintenance)
>> Uttam Patil, assistant engineer (sewerage operations)

Mumbai Fire Brigade personnel carry out a rescue operation after 55-year-old Aslam Shaikh allegedly fell into an open manhole on Khairani Road in Sakinaka on Thursday. He was later declared brought dead at Rajawadi Hospital. Pics/PTI

What the CCTV footage showed

According to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, CCTV footage revealed several safety lapses.

BMC's findings
>> No barricades around the work site.
>> No tripod covering the open manhole.
>> Two contract workers were only verbally warning pedestrians.

Ashwini Bhide, municipal commissioner

Why was the manhole open?

According to the BMC:
>> During road concreting works, 4446 manholes across Mumbai had to be opened.
>> Most were secured before the monsoon.
>> In L ward, 75 manholes were opened.
>> After the rains began, only four were still open.
>> Repair work was underway on one of these four when the incident occurred.

By the numbers

Item Number
Total manholes in Mumbai: 1,03,926
Manholes fitted with protective grills: 96,383
Manholes buried under roads: 1800
Manholes opened for road works in Mumbai: 4446
Manholes opened in L ward: 75
Open after monsoon began in L ward: 4