Mumbai:
5 days after 45-year-old Vimal Anil Gaikwad died – she fell into an open manhole she couldn’t see on a waterlogged street in Mumbai’s Andheri – an inner report appears to have cleared town’s civic physique, which faces costs of negligence, of any duty.
In an announcement launched Monday night the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company stated a “high-level inquiry” discovered the suburban Andheri street on which the horrific incident occurred is throughout the jurisdiction of the Maharashtra Metro Rail Company Restricted and the contractor, Larsen & Toubro.
The municipal physique stated the accident web site and surrounding space had been “in possession of MMRCL and L&T since 2015”, and in addition claimed it had flagged “errors” discovered throughout a web site inspection.
“It was submitted to MMRCL, by way of letters dated August 24 and August 29, 2024 to L&T, that the Municipal Company is certain to fulfill any defects through the Defect Legal responsibility Interval (DLP).”
“General, it’s concluded MMRCL and L&T are accountable for making good the defects on the accident websites,” the municipal physique stated, stressing additionally that its officers “have taken motion every now and then”.
READ | Lady, 45, Dies After Falling Into Drain Amid Heavy Rain In Mumbai
Nonetheless, town authority additionally acknowledged, for the reason that street is a principal street, the involved municipal employees ought to have been vigilant when a purple alert, for heavy rainfall, was declared.
The tragic incident happened at 9.20 pm close to Gate 8 of the Maharashtra Industrial Improvement Company workplace in Andheri East. Heavy rainfall had led to the road being absolutely flooded.
READ | Lady Dies After Falling Into Mumbai Drain, Cops Launch Probe
Mumbai police and fireplace brigade personnel took her to a neighborhood hospital the place she was declared useless.
The cops have filed an ADR, or unintentional loss of life report.
Ms Gaikwad’s husband, who filed a police grievance, stated his spouse was the household’s breadwinner. “I’m a sick man… my spouse used to take care… We’ve misplaced every little thing and I would like that whoever is at fault must be punished,” he stated.
Rain lashed Mumbai final week, inundating a number of roads and affecting flights on the metropolis airport.
READ | Heavy Rain In Mumbai, Commuters Stranded; Faculties, Schools Shut
No less than seven individuals have died in separate manhole incidents in Mumbai this 12 months.
The drain deaths additionally reveal an increase in thefts of manhole covers within the metropolis.
EDNBOX Explains | Highlight On Mumbai Manhole Deaths, What Is Behind Them
In 2023, Mumbai recorded 791 manhole cowl thefts. Manhole covers are product of forged iron and fetch an excellent worth – Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 – within the black market, making them a most well-liked goal of petty thieves.
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