A day after a man in his early 50s died after falling into an open manhole in Dum Dum in northeast Kolkata, the authorities did little to find out whose negligence may have led to the death of the man.
They also blamed residents for removing the cover.
Firhad Hakim, chairperson of the board of administrators of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, said a section of local residents from a shanty nearby used to keep the cover of the particular manhole —near Seven Tanks Estate on Dum Dum Road — open so that children could relieve themselves.
Late on Sunday evening police started a case of ‘unnatural death’ into the manhole tragedy riding a preliminary post-mortem report that indicated Ranjan Saha had died because of accumulation of muck in his mouth, nose and trachea following the fall.
The lid placed on the manhole on Sunday
Gautam BoseNo specific case of death due to negligence — under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code — was drawn up.
Saha died after he slipped and fell into an open manhole in the Seven Tanks area of Dum Dum on Friday night. A resident of Bediapara, he was returning home after completing his day’s trips as an autorickshaw driver.
“The cover of the particular manhole wasn’t removed. It was kept at one side. Some residents use this manhole so that their children can relieve themselves. It is unfortunate that no one brought to my notice about the lack of washrooms for the residents of this locality. I have asked the local ward coordinator to identify space where the KMC can build a few washrooms,” Hakim told The Telegraph.
Uncovered manholes on the pavement opposite Acropolis Mall
Gautam BoseMaintaining the manholes or ensuring that drains are properly covered are the responsibilities of the agency that maintains that particular road like the KMC, KMDA and PWD.
The PWD, submitted a report to Hakim on Sunday where it admitted that Dum Dum Road is maintained “from the office of the assistant engineer PWD Kolkata North Sub Division”.
The report by the executive engineer concludes stating that “action will be taken for more vigilance along with KMC’s drainage wing officials so that this type of incident would be avoided”.
No government agency was ready to accept the responsibility for the tragic death. “I have asked the police to find out what led to the death...,” Hakim said.
Uncovered manholes near Ruby crossing on Sunday
Gautam Bose“The preliminary post-mortem report says the victim received injuries on his head and muck was found in his nose, mouth and the trachea,” said a senior officer of Chitpore police station. “We are awaiting the final report.”
The police said they were yet to receive any complaint from the family.
The Telegraph on Sunday found an open manhole on the footpath, between EM Bypass and the service road to its left, on the stretch between Ruby crossing and Kalikapur.
A more dangerous stretch was along the Ruby-Gariahat connector.
Several lids were found missing on the southern footpath near Acropolis Mall.
