Mumbai News: 2 Labourers Drown In Overflowing Manhole At Govandi, Contractor Among 4 Held

Mumbai: After the death of two labourers who allegedly drowned by falling into an overflowing manhole on Saturday evening at Govandi’s Shivaji Nagar, police on Sunday arrested four people including the contractor for negligence and failing to provide them safety gears.

The incident happened at 4.22 pm followed by the heavy rain the city witnessed on Saturday. The two men were allegedly carrying out routine water flow tests in the manhole, which is connected to the recently constructed sewerage tunnel. However, due to the rain, it was already overflowing. The preliminary report from the BMC stated that they were employed by a private contractor for conducting the cleaning work. Due to access water, reportedly they drowned which is the cause of the death.

The deceased are identified as Ramkrishna Das, 25, and Sudhir Das, 30.

Their bodies were recovered and were taken to Rajawadi hospital who pronounced that they were brought dead.

Case registered against accused

After the hospital authorities informed the police, a case of accidental death was registered. However, on Sunday morning, Ramkrishna’s father, Niranjan, 40, approached the police alleging that the victim was not provided safety gears and the death was caused due to negligence. Followed by the investigation, four people were arrested by the police including the contractor Asjad Ahmed Arshad Siddiqui. The other three are Krishna Rudaji Purohit, Pramod Mishra, and Ashwin Dalaram Choudhary.

A case has been registered against them under section 34 (common intent) and 304 (2) (act done with knowledge that is likely to cause death, but without any intention to cause death) of the Indian Penal Code.