Laborer Dies in Open Manhole Fall in Delhi's Rohini

A 32-year-old laborer from Bihar died after falling into an open sewer manhole on vacant land in Delhi's Rohini Sector 32, authorities confirmed Tuesday, marking the second such fatal accident involving uncovered infrastructure in the city within days.

Birju Kumar Rai, a resident of Samastipur district, was walking with a fellow laborer near Mahashakti Kali Temple in the Begumpur area around 7:30 p.m. Monday when he lost his balance and fell into the approximately 15-foot-deep manhole, police said. Both men, who worked as daily wage laborers in the capital, had consumed alcohol earlier that evening and were returning to their nearby jhuggi when the incident occurred. The friend, identified as Budhan Das alias Suraj from Madhubani district, was walking ahead and did not immediately notice the fall due to his intoxicated state. He only informed another acquaintance, Amir Hussain from Darbhanga district, the following afternoon, prompting a police call at 2:36 p.m. Tuesday reporting a missing person suspected of entering the sewer.

Police from Begumpur station rushed to the site, a plot managed by the Delhi Development Authority, and coordinated with the fire brigade and other...