The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has taken strict action, suspending two of its employees, following the tragic death of a man who fell from his vehicle after hitting an open manhole. The incident has exposed serious lapses in the civic body's maintenance and supervision protocols.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The fatal accident occurred around 10 pm on November 26 near Sant Asharam Ashram on the road leading to St. Xavier's School in the New Bungalow area of A-Ward, Saijpur. According to an official AMC statement, a local resident was riding his two-wheeler when it struck an uncovered manhole.
In a desperate attempt to avoid disaster, the rider applied brakes abruptly. This caused him to lose control of the vehicle, slip, and fall, sustaining severe injuries in the process. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and died during the course of medical care.
AMC Admits Lapses, Takes Disciplinary Action
Following the accident, the civic body conducted a review and publicly admitted to serious lapses in supervision and an unacceptable delay in repair work at the accident site. The AMC issued show-cause notices to the officials responsible for the stretch, demanding an explanation for the uncovered manhole.
Officials scrutinized the complaint from the area and examined all relevant work records for that location. The investigation concluded that there was "serious negligence" in ensuring both timely repair and adequate safety measures around the hazardous manhole.
As a direct consequence, the municipal corporation suspended two employees from the Saijpur ward. Those suspended are the assistant engineer and the technical supervisor accountable for the maintenance of that specific zone.
Accountability and Civic Safety in Focus
This incident has once again turned the spotlight on the critical issue of urban infrastructure maintenance and public safety in Indian cities. The AMC's swift action to suspend the officials points to an acknowledgment of systemic failure. The tragedy underscores the life-threatening risks posed by neglected civic amenities like open manholes, especially on busy city roads.
The case is expected to prompt a wider review of inspection and maintenance schedules across other wards in Ahmedabad to prevent such preventable accidents in the future.
