Commuters wade through a waterlogged street after heavy rain, in Mumbai. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Just days after a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) worker fell into a manhole, another man lost his life after falling into another manhole in the city on Thursday (July 2, 2026). Maintenance work was in progress on Khairani Road near Sanman Hotel in Mumbai’s Chandivali area where the incident occured.
The man, identified as 55-year-old Aslam Esaf Shaikh, was taken to the Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, where the doctors declared him brought dead. BMC Ritu Tawde has announced a financial assistance of ₹10 lakh on behalf of the corporation to the family of the deceased.
According to the BMC official, the firemen rescued the person by ventilating the sewer line using an exhaust blower and use rescue van, a tripod and a rope ladder.
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Four officers suspended
Following the latest incident involving a manhole, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide suspended four officers till the investigation report is submitted. Assistant Commissioner of ‘L’ ward Dhanaji Harlekar, Assistant/Secondary Engineer (Maintenance, L Division) Deepak Chougule, Junior Engineer (Maintenance, L Ward) Abhijit Chougule, and Assistant Engineer (Sewerage Operations) Uttam Patil were suspended on Thursday (July 2, 2026).
Ms. Bhide also ordered to blacklist the contractor concerned for “negligence in work regarding safety norms”. “While the process of installing safety net was going on, no precaution was taken. The people standing near the manhole tried to stop him by shouting but by that time the deceased lost his balance and fell into the ‘manhole’,” said Ms. Bhide.
Committee formed
A high-level inquiry has been constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) to conduct a investigation into the incident and to suggest measures to prevent such incidents. The committee includes Deputy Commissioner (General Administration), Deputy Commissioner (Zone 7), Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure). The inquiry committee has been ordered to submit a report within seven days.
BMC has instructed all the ward officers to install barricades on all four sides while carrying out the work of the manhole. A 100% inspection of the manholes in the BMC area should be carried out in the next eight days, the order said.
Lives’ at risk during Mumbai rains
In the last 24 hours, several areas in Mumbai have received 200 mm of rainfall, causing severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions. As the monsoon hit Mumbai from the last week of June, the casualties in Mumbai have become evident with Shaikh’s death being the third incident.
On Tuesday, an 11-year-old student died after a tree fell onto a school bus in Chembur, while a 51-year-old man was killed in the Walkeshwar area after a portion of a third-floor balcony collapsed. A week ago BMC worker accompanying BMC Mayor Ritu Tawde during an inspection of waterlogged areas at Gandhi Market, fell into a manhole.
Installing manhole nets is part of annual pre-monsoon preparations in Mumbai. However, the waterlogging or flooded roads often make them invisible, putting pedestrians or motorists’ lives at risk.
Published – July 02, 2026 04:39 pm IST
