Mumbai drain fall row: Mayor Ritu Tawde calls incident ‘fishy’, seeks BMC probe a day after viral mishap

MUMBAI: A day after a civic worker fell into an open rainwater drain during her inspection of a chronic flooding spot at Gandhi Market in King Circle, Mumbai mayor and BJP leader Ritu Tawde on Thursday termed the incident “fishy” and sought a detailed inquiry from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).Speaking to TOI, Tawde questioned how the civic mukadam (supervisor) could have fallen into the open drain despite being aware that it was part of an exposed stormwater channel and that barricading had been put in place.“A passerby walked safely along the edge of the barricaded drain. Then how did a civic staffer, who knew the drain was open, end up falling into it? I find this all very fishy and have immediately asked the BMC administration to investigate the matter and submit a report,” she said, adding that officials had assured her an inquiry would be conducted.The incident occurred on Wednesday morning as Tawde was inspecting pumping systems and drainage preparedness following the season’s first heavy showers. A video that later went viral showed the F-North ward mukadam slipping and falling waist-deep into the rainwater-filled drain just a few feet away from the mayor. He was pulled out immediately and did not suffer injuries.

In the immediate aftermath, Tawde had reprimanded civic officials and warned of action if manholes and water channels connected to the stormwater drainage network were left open without adequate safeguards.

She had also said that the grille over the drain had been removed during cleaning work, and barricades and warning signs were placed at the site.The viral video, however, triggered sharp reactions online and from opposition parties, who took digs at the city’s rain preparedness and civic accountability.Congress city chief Varsha Gaikwad said, “That man has fallen into the pothole of your inaction and corruption.

This is not an accident, but your corruption has been caught redhanded.”Sena (UBT) corporator Kishori Pednekar, who visited the site in the evening, said, “On the ground they [ruling party] are asking us to come and work, and right here, a staffer has fallen. First take action against the administration for such lapses. When we were in power, we took action.”On X, Anish Gawande, NCP (SP) national spokesperson, posted, “The only thing Mumbai Mayor @TawdeRitu seems to be doing is “inspecting” crumbling projects. First, the Mrinal Tai Gore Flyover. Now, manholes that give way at the first sight of rains. Where exactly is accountability supposed to begin?”On Thursday, Tawde reiterated that while safety lapses during monsoon-related works are taken seriously, the circumstances of the fall warranted closer scrutiny.“If proper barricading was done and others could navigate the spot safely, we need to understand exactly what happened,” she said.BMC officials said a report on the incident would be submitted after examining on-site arrangements, CCTV footage if available, and statements of staff present during the inspection.