BMC Pest Control Worker Dies After Fall at BDD Chawl in Dadar East
A 45-year-old permanent worker with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Pest Control Department died on Saturday afternoon after falling while inspecting a water tank for potential dengue breeding sites at BDD Chawl in Dadar East.
The deceased municipal worker, identified as Pandurang Todkar, was conducting inspection work at Building No. A6 when the fatal incident occurred at around 2.55pm.
According to F/South assistant municipal commissioner Vrushali Ingule, Todkar slipped while climbing down from the water tank. He fell from a height of approximately 5 to 7 feet onto his back. During the fall, a rod struck his eye, causing severe injury.
Todkar was immediately transported from the scene to KEM Hospital. Medical staff at the hospital attempted to revive him, including through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, Todkar could not be revived and was declared dead on arrival by attending doctors.
Todkar is survived by his wife and two sons, including his elder son Sairaj Todkar. Following the incident, Mayor Ritu Tawde visited KEM Hospital to meet Sairaj. During the visit, the Mayor directed the civic administration to immediately initiate official proceedings to provide pension benefits to Todkar's family, as well as employment within the Municipal Corporation to an eligible heir.
The fatality took place as the BMC's Pest Control Department intensified citywide inspections of water tanks and other potential mosquito-breeding locations to check mosquito breeding and curb the spread of monsoon-related illnesses.
The civic body's monthly disease surveillance report highlighted a sharp surge in monsoon diseases across Mumbai leading up to the incident. Malaria cases in the city more than doubled from 655 recorded in June to 1,380 in July. Similarly, dengue cases increased from 266 in June to 466 in July.
Other monsoonal illnesses also registered increases over the same period. Leptospirosis cases in Mumbai rose from 33 in June to 78 in July, while gastroenteritis cases jumped from 603 to 851. Covid infections rose from 27 to 58, and H1N1 swine flu cases increased from 58 to 105. Chikungunya cases remained unchanged at seven during both months.
