A 55-year-old man died in Mumbai on Thursday after falling into an open manhole that had been left uncovered during ongoing maintenance work on Khairani Road in the Sakinaka area.
The incident occurred around 12:30 pm near Sanman Hotel, close to SJ Studio, when the victim, identified as Aslam Esaf Shaikh, was walking while reportedly talking on his mobile phone. He reportedly stepped into the uncovered drain and was swept inside.
The manhole cover had been removed by three contractual workers engaged by a private agency for maintenance work. Although they immediately tried to rescue him by lowering a ladder into the opening, they were unable to locate him.
His umbrella and slippers were later found at the site. A joint search operation involving the Mumbai Fire Brigade, police, and emergency services was launched, and his body was recovered about two hours later. He was taken to Rajawadi Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Following the incident, officials said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to take action against the contractor, treating the case as negligence amounting to homicide. The BMC commissioner also suspended four civic officials, including engineers and a ward assistant commissioner, pending further inquiry.
The mayor announced an ex gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh for the victim's family.