Mumbai, June 24: A civic staffer from the BMC's Solid Waste Management (SWM) department narrowly escaped injury after falling into an open manhole (drainage chamber) during Mayor Ritu Tawde’s inspection of waterlogged areas near Gandhi Market on Wednesday.
Police personnel and civic staff accompanying the inspection team quickly rescued him, and no serious injuries were reported. However, the incident has highlighted the risks posed by waterlogged streets and hidden manholes during heavy monsoon rains.
The incident occurred while the Mayor was reviewing flood-control measures at Gandhi Market in Sion, when the mukkadam (supervisor) stepped into a manhole that had been concealed by accumulated rainwater on an adjoining road.
According to civic sources, the barricaded manhole had been submerged by rainwater, and the supervisor accidentally stepped into it while trying to reach the footpath where the Mayor was standing. Police personnel and civic staff quickly rescued him, and he escaped unhurt.
However, videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media, drawing criticism from opposition parties and citizens, who questioned the civic administration's monsoon preparedness and safety measures.
Opposition Criticises Monsoon Preparedness
Kishori Pednekar, Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator and Leader of Opposition in the BMC, blamed Wednesday's widespread waterlogging on incomplete desilting works and poor monsoon preparedness.
“The large-scale flooding across the city is a direct result of unfinished desilting work. The administration must immediately complete the pending works before the monsoon intensifies further,” she said.
Questioning the effectiveness of flood-mitigation measures, Pednekar noted that despite major initiatives such as the BRIMSTOWAD project and over a decade of BJP rule in the state and BMC, Mumbai had come to a standstill after the season's first major downpour. “After the very first spell of heavy rain, large parts of the city are submerged,” she said.
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad also targeted the civic administration over the incident, alleging negligence and corruption in a social media post.
Addressing Tawde, she wrote, "Madam Mayor, before telling protesters to come out onto the streets and work, take a look at the citizen who has fallen in a manhole right in front of you. The person has fallen into the hole because of your inaction and corruption. This is not an accident. But your corruption is being caught red-handed."
Call For Safety Measures
Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi has urged Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide to survey open and damaged manholes across Mumbai and install durable protective grilles, particularly in waterlogging-prone areas. Ghadi said, "Submerged manholes become difficult to spot during heavy rains, posing a serious safety risk to citizens."
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He called for a survey of manholes near schools, hospitals, railway stations and flood-prone locations, and sought immediate measures to improve public safety during the monsoon.
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