BMC inquiry rules worker falling into King's Circle drain was an accident
A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) inquiry report has ruled that a civic worker's fall into an open stormwater channel during a mayoral inspection at King’s Circle on June 24 was an accident. The investigation has led to recommendations for new safety protocols and improved crowd management during visits by high-profile officials.
The incident occurred while Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde was conducting an inspection of a chronic flooding spot located at King’s Circle. According to eyewitness accounts provided to BMC officials, the civic worker fell into the open channel while he was rushing towards media cameras at the site.
The day after the incident, Mayor Tawde had described the worker's fall as "fishy" and formally requested a detailed inquiry from the BMC administration to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event.
In response, the local ward office and the stormwater drains department conducted an investigation and prepared a joint civic inquiry report. This report was officially submitted to the BMC chief’s office on Monday.
The inquiry report concluded that the fall was an accident and outlined several key safety measures to prevent similar mishaps. A senior BMC official explained that the report recommended clearly demarcating any areas where civic staff are actively carrying out desilting or drainage operations.
According to the official, these active work zones must be kept entirely separate from spaces that are accessible to visitors and the general public. The report noted that this separation is particularly crucial during inspections conducted by public representatives, such as the mayor.
To enforce these boundaries, the inquiry recommended the mandatory barricading of all open channels and active work sites. Additionally, the report called for the installation of warning signboards and standees to alert people to the hazards.
Finally, the civic officials proposed the implementation of a separate safety protocol specifically designed for VIP inspections conducted at active drainage works.
