A tragedy struck in the evening on Saturday, June 24, 2023, when two men tragically drowned after falling into an overflowing drain manhole in Govandi's Shivaji Nagar. According to officials, the men were engaged in routine water flow tests. Due to the incessant rainfall, which battered large parts of the city, the drain had exceeded its capacity, leading to the unfortunate incident.
Recovery and Pronouncement: Victims Identified as Ramkrishna and Sudhir Das
Following a diligent effort, the bodies of the victims were successfully recovered and swiftly transported to Rajawadi Hospital. However, the medical professionals declared them 'brought dead' upon arrival. The deceased have been identified as Ramkrishna, aged 25, and Sudhir Das, aged 30.
"Justice delayed is Justice denied"
— Govandi Citizens (@GovandiCell) June 24, 2023
Mumbai | Two persons died after falling inside a manhole during underground drain cleaning work at Shivaji Nagar, Govandi today @mybmcWardME
We raised multiple times about the issues of Manual Scavenging but still concern authority not yet… pic.twitter.com/AgvuqI0fFC
Incident Details: Sewerage Tunnel Testing Turns Tragic
The Mumbai Fire Brigade reported that the distressing incident occurred at 4:22 pm on Shivaji Nagar's 90-feet road. The initial report from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) revealed that the laborers were employed by a private contractor and were engaged in cleaning work when the tragedy unfolded. An official, who chose to remain anonymous, explained that the sewerage tunnel, constructed recently, was undergoing routine water flow testing. However, due to the heavy rain, the channel overflowed, leading to the unfortunate drowning of the workers.
Allegations and Suspicions: Electrocuting Claim by Samajwadi Party MLA
Amid the tragedy, Abu Azmi, the Samajwadi Party MLA representing the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency, raised allegations through a tweet. He claimed that the laborers had lost their lives due to electrocution while inspecting sewage lines on Road No. 10 at 90 feet road. The veracity of these claims remains to be investigated.
Torrential Rainfall Across Maharashtra: IMD Issues Alerts
The city of Mumbai, along with Thane, Palghar, and Navi Mumbai, experienced heavy rainfall on Saturday, indicating the imminent arrival of the monsoon season. As the rain intensified during the evening, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert that would remain in effect until Sunday. The alert signifies the likelihood of continued heavy rain.
Regional Impact: Alerts for Raigad, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, and Sindhudurg
The IMD further issued an orange alert for Raigad and Ratnagiri, highlighting the severity of the situation in these regions. Additionally, a yellow alert was issued for Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, and Sindhudurg areas, indicating the impact of the heavy rainfall. Within the last 24 hours, Mumbai recorded 104 mm of rain, while the eastern and western suburbs experienced 123 mm and 139 mm of rainfall, respectively. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) predicts a gradual increase in rainfall intensity over parts of Maharashtra in the next 4-5 days, signaling the possibility of severe weather conditions.
Maharashtra | India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues an Orange alert for Raigad and Ratnagiri and a Yellow alert for Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, and Sindhudurg. pic.twitter.com/NlI2cUlf5b
— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023
As investigations continue into the tragic incident at Shivaji Nagar, authorities are working diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of Mumbai's residents during this monsoon season.
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