Tragic Death in Rohini as Labourer Falls into Open Manhole
In a distressing incident highlighting urban safety failures, a 32-year-old daily wage labourer lost his life after falling into an open manhole on a vacant plot owned by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in Rohini's Begumpur area. The body of Birju Kumar Rai, a native of Samastipur district in Bihar, was recovered nearly 24 hours after the accident, raising serious questions about negligence and infrastructure upkeep.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Fatality
According to police reports, the incident occurred on Monday evening around 7:30 PM. Birju Kumar Rai was returning to his jhuggi cluster in Rohini's Sector 32 with his friend, Budhan Das alias Suraj (33), also from Bihar's Madhubani district. Both men had consumed alcohol earlier that night. While walking back, Birju accidentally fell into the uncovered manhole on the DDA property.
Budhan Das, who witnessed the fall, did not immediately report the incident due to intoxication. He regained his senses only by Tuesday afternoon and informed another friend, Amir Hussain. Hussain subsequently made a PCR call at 2:36 PM on Tuesday to the Begumpur police station, reporting a missing person suspected to have fallen into a sewer.
Rescue Operation and Aftermath
Following the alert, teams from Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, and DDA were swiftly mobilized to the site. Fire brigade personnel worked diligently and managed to retrieve Birju's body from the manhole around 5:45 PM on Tuesday. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Medico-legal formalities are currently being completed as part of the investigation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Rajeev Ranjan stated, "Amir Hussain, who made the PCR call, said that his friends Budhan Das and Birju Kumar Rai, both labourers, had consumed alcohol last night. Around 7.30 pm, Birju fell into the manhole while they were returning to their jhuggi." He added, "Budhan Das said that he did not inform anyone at night, as he was intoxicated and informed Amir Hussain as soon as he regained his senses on Tuesday afternoon."
Investigation into Negligence and Accountability
Police have launched a detailed investigation to establish the exact sequence of events and determine responsibility for the manhole's upkeep. An officer involved in the case revealed, "We are also examining whether safety norms were violated and if any negligence contributed to the fatality." The focus is on identifying lapses in maintenance and ensuring accountability, particularly as the DDA, the land-owning agency, has not responded to queries regarding the incident.
This tragedy underscores broader issues of urban infrastructure safety in Delhi, where open manholes and poor maintenance often pose risks to residents, especially in underserved areas. The case has sparked concerns about the enforcement of safety regulations and the need for stricter oversight on public properties.
Key Points:
- The victim, Birju Kumar Rai, was a 32-year-old labourer from Bihar.
- The incident occurred on a DDA plot in Rohini's Begumpur, with the body found after nearly 24 hours.
- Police are investigating potential negligence and safety violations.
- The DDA has remained silent on the matter, raising accountability questions.
As the investigation progresses, authorities aim to prevent similar incidents by addressing infrastructure gaps and holding responsible parties accountable for such preventable tragedies.
