Man dies after falling into open manhole in Mumbai rain

A 55-year-old man died in Mumbai on Thursday after falling into an open, unmarked manhole during heavy monsoon rains. The incident occurred on Khairani Road in the Chandivali area, where private contractors had removed the cover for maintenance work. The victim, identified as Aslam Easaf Shaikh, was reportedly speaking on his mobile phone when he stepped into the uncovered shaft, which was obscured by waterlogging.

CCTV footage captured Shaikh walking past a parked vehicle before suddenly disappearing. Contract workers at the site immediately lowered a ladder into the manhole but found only his umbrella and slippers. The strong flow of water initially hampered rescue efforts, making it difficult to determine which direction he had been swept. After an intensive search, a firefighter equipped with breathing apparatus descended into the underground line and pulled Shaikh out some distance from where he fell. He was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) stated that the contractors had failed to display warning signs or barricade the open manhole. Following the tragedy, the civic body suspended four...