A tragic incident occurred in Delhi’s Begumpur area of Rohini Sector 32, where a 27-year-old labourer named Birju lost his life after falling into an open manhole. The manhole, located on a piece of land owned by the Delhi Development Authority, was left uncovered, leading to the fatal accident.
Police received a call reporting the incident at around 2:36 p.m., followed by another call at 4 p.m., prompting a swift response from the authorities. Amir Hussain, a witness to the event, informed the police that Birju had fallen into the manhole the previous night.
According to another labourer, Budhan Das, the tragic incident occurred while he and Birju were returning home after consuming alcohol. Birju lost his balance and fell into the open sewer, with Budhan admitting that he was too intoxicated to seek immediate help. Residents criticized the delayed emergency response and highlighted the lack of safety measures in the area.
Eyewitnesses pointed out serious negligence by authorities, citing the absence of street lights and open drains in the vicinity. They expressed concerns over the safety of residents, especially children, who frequently use the same route. The fire brigade, along with other agencies, was alerted, and a rescue operation was launched to retrieve the body from the manhole.
Police confirmed that an investigation is ongoing into the incident, which occurred shortly after another fatal accident involving a biker in Delhi. Kamal Dhyani, an assistant manager at HDFC Bank, lost his life when his motorcycle fell into a pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board for sewer-related work.
