Mumbai’s Manhole Safety Crisis: Labourer Vimal Anil Gaikwad Dies After Falling into Waterlogged Manhole

Mumbai, 26th September 2024: The tragic death of 45-year-old Vimal Anil Gaikwad, who fell into a waterlogged manhole last night, has once again drawn attention to Mumbai’s persistent manhole-related fatalities. Over the past few years, the city has witnessed several such accidents, with seven deaths occurring this year alone.

Just last month, labourer Sunil Wakode lost his life after opening a BMC manhole in Borivali West without official authorization to clean drains. In a separate incident in April, three individuals—Raghu Solanki, Javed Shaikh, and his brother Aqib Shaikh—fell into a manhole in Malad East. Raghu, after plunging into a 30-foot-deep manhole, was followed by the brothers, who attempted to rescue him. Unfortunately, Raghu and Javed succumbed to the mishap.

A similar tragedy unfolded in March, claiming the lives of three workers—Suraj Kevat, Bikas Kevat, and Ramlagan Kevat—who fell into a sewer chamber while cleaning drains in Malad West.

In 2017, the death of Dr Deepak Amrapurkar, a gastroenterologist, shocked the city after he fell into a manhole near Prabhadevi during heavy rainfall. His body was later recovered near Worli. A year later, 18-year-old Arjun died in a manhole accident in Malad, followed by another tragic incident involving Sheetal Bhanushali, a 35-year-old mother of two, who lost her life in Ghatkopar during a downpour.

In addition to these fatalities, there has been a worrying spike in manhole cover thefts across Mumbai. Last year alone, 791 cases were recorded, with 836 cases reported the year prior, marking the highest number in four years. This rise in thefts, fueled by the high resale value of cast-iron manhole covers—priced between ₹3,000 and ₹5,000—has exacerbated safety risks for the city’s residents.

Following Dr. Amrapurkar’s death, the Bombay High Court recommended that BMC install preventive grills on manholes to deter theft. However, in a hearing last year, the court criticized BMC for its slow progress, noting that grills had only been placed on 1,908 out of the city’s 74,682 manholes.