Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday, 2 July directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner to submit a detailed report by evening after Aslam Ansari, a 45-year-old man, fell into an uncovered manhole on Khairani Road, Sakinaka and was swept away by stormwater. The Speaker also called for examining whether a culpable homicide offence should be registered against those responsible for leaving the manhole open without safety barricades.

How the Incident Unfolded

Ansari was walking along Khairani Road — a key artery connecting Andheri-Saki Naka and Jogeshwari to Kurla and Ghatkopar — while speaking on his mobile phone during torrential rainfall that had been lashing Mumbai since the previous day. Waterlogging on the street obscured the open manhole, and Ansari fell straight into it. The manhole is estimated to be 20 to 25 feet deep, and the force of rushing stormwater swept him underground. He was subsequently found at another manhole located approximately 15 to 20 feet away. His umbrella and slippers were recovered at the site of the fall.

Multi-Agency Rescue Operation Launched

A search and rescue operation was immediately mobilised, involving the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), local police, 108 Ambulance services, and civic officials. According to reports, maintenance work at the site had been contracted to a private agency, which had left the manhole cover removed without placing any warning signs or safety barricades for pedestrians.

What the Speaker and Government Said

The matter was raised on the floor of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Amit Satam, who demanded stern action. Speaker Narwekar responded sharply, stating: 'It is quite a serious issue. Various works are underway during the rainy season. In some cases manholes are open and in some areas roads are dug up. In such cases, the offence under culpable homicide should be registered.' Forest Minister Ganesh Naik assured the House that the government would act in accordance with the Speaker's directive.

A Disturbing Pattern of Negligence

Narwekar also recalled a prior incident in which a prominent doctor died after being washed away into an open manhole — a tragedy that had similarly triggered public outrage but yielded limited systemic change. This latest incident is described as the second high-profile negligence case in recent weeks; earlier, a municipal worker had fallen into a manhole during an inspection tour by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde. Ansari's brother, who rushed to the spot, said: 'The rain had intensified, and he was heading back home. Some work was being carried out there, but those people clearly do not care about human lives. They had put up no safety barricades or warning signs for public safety. The work was left wide open, and my brother fell right into it.'

Investigation and What Comes Next

Local police and BMC officials have launched an investigation into the private contractor's alleged failure to follow safety protocols at the work site. The BMC Commissioner's report, due by Thursday evening, is expected to determine accountability and the legal course of action. With Mumbai's monsoon season still in full force, civic authorities face renewed pressure to audit all active worksites across the city for open manholes and unguarded excavations.