A 45-year-old labourer was killed after falling into an open manhole in Mumbai’s Sakinaka area on Thursday, in an incident that has intensified scrutiny of civic safety measures during the monsoon.
The victim, identified as Aslam Sheikh, was reportedly on his way home when he accidentally stepped into the uncovered manhole on Khairani Road at around 10.45 am. The manhole, estimated to be 25 to 30 feet deep, had allegedly been left open due to ongoing civic maintenance work.
The tragedy comes days after another incident in which a civic officer fell into a manhole in the presence of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, raising fresh concerns over the city’s monsoon preparedness.
Victim Fell While Talking On Mobile Phone
According to information received by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
Fire Brigade Control Room, the incident was reported at 12.26 pm from Khairani Road near Sanman Hotel, close to SJ Studio in Sakinaka.
Officials at the site said three private contractual workers carrying out maintenance work had removed the manhole cover. During this time, Aslam Sheikh, who was reportedly talking on his mobile phone, accidentally stepped into the open manhole and fell inside.
The contractual staff immediately lowered a ladder into the manhole in an attempt to rescue him. However, only Sheikh’s umbrella and slippers were recovered. Due to the strong flow of rainwater inside the drain, officials were initially unable to determine in which direction he had been swept away.
Rescue Operation Lasted Several Hours
Police, fire brigade personnel and other emergency responders rushed to the scene soon after receiving information and launched a large-scale search operation.
Officials feared Sheikh had been swept away through the underground drainage system because of the strong water current created by the heavy rain. According to an update issued at 2.15 pm, fire brigade personnel located the body inside the drainage network and began efforts to retrieve it.
Despite rescue operations that continued for nearly three hours, Sheikh could not be saved and was declared dead. Further investigation into the incident is underway.
A large number of local residents gathered at the spot as the rescue operation progressed.
Another life lost. Another preventable tragedy. How many more Mumbaikars must die before basic civic safety becomes a priority? Open manholes are not “accidents”, they are the result of negligence, failed systems & a lack of accountability.
The Bombay High Court has repeatedly…
— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) July 2, 2026
Questions Raised Over Open Manhole
According to local residents, a contractor engaged by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had opened the manhole for maintenance work but allegedly failed to install barricades, warning signs or any other safety measures around the site.
मुंबईत एका निष्पाप नागरिकाचा जीव उघड्या मॅनहोलमुळे गेला. मागे उरली फक्त त्याची छत्री आणि चप्पल… पण प्रशासनाच्या निष्काळजीपणाचा ठसा मात्र संपूर्ण शहरावर उमटला. @mybmc @TawdeRitu
ही केवळ दुर्घटना नाही, हा व्यवस्थेच्या बेफिकीरीचा बळी आहे. जे रस्ते, गटारे आणि नागरिकांची सुरक्षितता… pic.twitter.com/XiyIdsvVHa— Akhil Chitre अखिल चित्रे (@akhil1485) July 2, 2026
The absence of protective barriers has triggered allegations of negligence, with residents questioning why excavation work was being carried out during heavy rainfall without adequate safeguards.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Shraddha Jadhav criticised the administration, asking why open manholes continue to pose a threat during every monsoon despite repeated fatal incidents.
Former Mumbai Mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishori Pednekar also visited the accident site and criticised the civic administration, as opposition leaders stepped up attacks on Mayor Ritu Tawde over what they described as repeated instances of civic apathy during the monsoon.
Mayor Orders Inquiry Into Contractor
Responding to the incident, Mayor Ritu Tawde said an inquiry had been ordered to determine why the manhole had been left open during heavy rain.
She said even the local ward officer was unaware that maintenance work was underway and added that the investigation would determine which private contractor had started the work, whether it had been undertaken without a valid work order, and why barricades and safety measures were not put in place.
The mayor said civic authorities had gone into “action mode” and assured that responsibility would be fixed if negligence was established.
Mumbai Weather Update: Red Alert Issued As Heavy Rain Continues
The fatal accident comes as Mumbai continues to receive intense monsoon rainfall after an unusually dry June.
Rainfall has intensified over the past 24 hours, with more than 200 mm recorded in Mumbai. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad, while alerts also remain in place for Palghar.
Earlier in the day, schools in Panvel, Raigad and Palghar were closed as a precaution.
State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Girish Mahajan, after reviewing the situation at the Disaster Management Control Room, urged people to leave their homes only if absolutely necessary. He warned that the next few hours were critical because of a scheduled high tide, which could worsen flooding if heavy rain continued.
The minister also advised people to avoid waterfalls, dams and other tourist destinations over the weekend, refrain from driving through waterlogged roads or flooded bridges, and follow official advisories.
He said 16 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and six State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams had been deployed across Maharashtra and remain on round-the-clock alert.
A red alert has also been issued for July 4 and July 5 across the ghat regions of Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Pune and Satara. District collectors have been authorised to decide on the closure of schools, government offices and private establishments depending on local weather conditions.
