Maharashtra: 68-year-old falls in manhole at Virar, body found 12 hours later

MUMBAI: More than 12 hours after a 68-year-old woman had gone missing since visiting a temple on Monday morning, her body was found in an open manhole in Virar.
Kamlaben Shah, a resident of M B Estate, Doghar Pada, Virar (West), had left home to visit the nearby Vimalnath Jain temple around 5.30am. When she did not return by 9am, her family launched a search. Temple authorities told the family that she had attended prayers in the morning and left by around 8am. As efforts to find her failed, messages along with photographs of Kamlaben were circulated by the family on social media platforms.
Around 12 hours later, the family was informed about a body found in an open manhole near Swami Narayan temple in Virar (West). Fire brigade personnel reached the spot and retrieved the body around 6.30pm. It was handed over to the family after autopsy.
Family members said though Kamlaben was a regular at the temple and knew the route, she had been advised bed rest for two weeks due to a back ailment. On Monday, she insisted on visiting the temple as it was an auspicious day.
There was no eyewitness who saw her fall into the manhole. Virar police suspect while walking on the cemented gutter, she may have tripped and fallen into the manhole.
Locals said in the past stray animals have fallen into the same manhole. "We have helped rescue at least two to three that had fallen into the manhole. At least now the municipality should wake up and cover it," said animal activist Mitesh Jain. He said several manholes in Vasai region have missing lids and there have been cases of animals and people falling into these. Locals said the road on which the manhole is located does not have street lights making it dangerous before sunrise and after sunset.
Police said a case of accidental death has been registered. Residents from the locality said civic officials need to be booked for negligence. Locals said the manhole has been lying open for several months.
Shah's son Jiten told TOI she would regularly visit the temple. He said as there are no CCTVs around the locality and no eyewitness either, it is not known how she fell into the manhole. He said civic authorities should be held accountable. The final rites were performed on Monday night.