BMC worker dies after inhaling gas in Nana Chowk manhole
TNN | Mar 18, 2019, 05:47 IST
A BMC worker who entered a manhole at Nana Chowk late on Saturday died after inhaling poisonous gasMUMBAI: A BMC worker who entered a manhole at Nana Chowk late on Saturday died after inhaling poisonous gas. Four other workers who had gone down with him to attend a pipeline issue have been hospitalised. They had entered the manhole near Grant Road station without any protective gear.
The labourers, from the water department office, had gone 15ft deep. The manhole is at stone’s throw from the BMC’s D Ward office. Assistant municipal commissioner (D Ward) Vishwas Mote remained unavailable for comments.
Leader of the conservancy workers’ union, Kachra Vahtuk Shramik Sangh (KVSS), Milind Ranade said, “Senior civic officials should be held responsible for the death and for compromising the safety of conservancy workers. Specific guidelines have been set to be followed before entering a manhole and workers should be provided with safety equipment. However, the BMC failed to provide safety gear to its workers and violated the court’s guideline, causing death of a person.”
A source said initially, two workers had entered the manhole with repairing equipment and were about to start work when they fell unconscious. Three other workers entered the manhole to rescue the two but they too fell unconscious. Workers waiting outside alerted the fire brigade, who extricated the five workers and shifted them to BYL Nair Hospital. However, Rakesh Nizab (45) was declared dead before admission at the hospital. The other four workers, Balasaheb
(47), Umesh Pawar (42), Suresh Pawar and Shantaram Bhakte
(47), are recuperating at the hospital. Their condition is stable.
BYL Nair Hospital authorities said “The four had severe breathing difficulties due to suffocation. Their oxygen levels had depleted. They were also panic-stricken and that could have added to their breathing problems,” said a doctor, adding that while three were undergoing treatment in the ward, one was admitted in the ICU. “All are on oxygen support. They are being monitored closely,” said the doctor.
Dr Shailesh Mohite, head of forensic medicine, said the cause of death of the worker has been reserved. “We will be able to conclude only after the chemical analysis report from Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina,” he said. Forensic tests will help the police conclude whether the worker died due to inhalation of toxic gases.
The labourers, from the water department office, had gone 15ft deep. The manhole is at stone’s throw from the BMC’s D Ward office. Assistant municipal commissioner (D Ward) Vishwas Mote remained unavailable for comments.
Leader of the conservancy workers’ union, Kachra Vahtuk Shramik Sangh (KVSS), Milind Ranade said, “Senior civic officials should be held responsible for the death and for compromising the safety of conservancy workers. Specific guidelines have been set to be followed before entering a manhole and workers should be provided with safety equipment. However, the BMC failed to provide safety gear to its workers and violated the court’s guideline, causing death of a person.”
A source said initially, two workers had entered the manhole with repairing equipment and were about to start work when they fell unconscious. Three other workers entered the manhole to rescue the two but they too fell unconscious. Workers waiting outside alerted the fire brigade, who extricated the five workers and shifted them to BYL Nair Hospital. However, Rakesh Nizab (45) was declared dead before admission at the hospital. The other four workers, Balasaheb
(47), Umesh Pawar (42), Suresh Pawar and Shantaram Bhakte
(47), are recuperating at the hospital. Their condition is stable.
BYL Nair Hospital authorities said “The four had severe breathing difficulties due to suffocation. Their oxygen levels had depleted. They were also panic-stricken and that could have added to their breathing problems,” said a doctor, adding that while three were undergoing treatment in the ward, one was admitted in the ICU. “All are on oxygen support. They are being monitored closely,” said the doctor.
Dr Shailesh Mohite, head of forensic medicine, said the cause of death of the worker has been reserved. “We will be able to conclude only after the chemical analysis report from Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina,” he said. Forensic tests will help the police conclude whether the worker died due to inhalation of toxic gases.
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