3 min readMumbaiJun 24, 2026 04:32 PM IST
First published on: Jun 24, 2026 at 03:28 PM IST
A civic official fell into an open manhole during Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde’s inspection of waterlogged areas in Gandhi Market Wednesday, an incident captured on camera and quickly sparking political attacks over the city’s monsoon preparedness.
Heavy rainfall battered Mumbai overnight, with several pockets recording over 200 mm in eight hours, leading to submerged streets and major traffic disruptions across low-lying areas.
As Mayor Ritu Tawde reviewed flood-control measures at Gandhi Market, the civic official accompanying the inspection team fell into an open manhole concealed by accumulated rainwater on the adjoining road. He was rescued within moments by police and other civic staff present at the spot.
“There was an open manhole, and the footpath and the adjoining area were barricaded. The man tried to approach the footpath where the mayor was standing by removing the barricades and fell into the manhole,” a spokesperson of the mayor’s office told the Indian Express.
A civic body official said the man sustained no injuries in the incident.
‘Inaction and corruption’
Meanwhile, as videos and photographs of the incident surfaced on social media, Congress MP from Mumbai Varsha Gaikwad and Kishori Pednekar, Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator and Leader of Opposition in BMC, criticised Tawde.
“Madam Mayor, before telling protesters to come out onto the streets and work, take a look at the citizen who has fallen in a manhole right in front of you. The person has fallen into the hole because of your inaction and corruption. This is not an accident. But your corruption is being caught red handed,” Gaikwad wrote in her post.
Pednekar slammed the civic administration for carrying out incomplete desilting work.
“For more than a decade, the BJP has been in power in the state as well as in BMC; they were in an alliance with us (the undivided Shiv Sena). Major projects like BRIMSTOWAD were carried out to curb waterlogging. Even during the July 2005 floods, Mumbai stood still and here, after the first spell of rains, the city is submerged under water,” Pednekar said.
“The city-wide waterlogging recorded on Wednesday is the direct result of incomplete desilting work. The administration should wake up now and complete the balance work that is remaining,” she added.
Refuting this, Mayor Tawde accused Pednekar of “holding press conferences from home”. “Work doesn’t get done by sitting at home. You have to get wet in the rain. You have to come out. You have to be on the road,” she said.
As Mayor Ritu Tawde reviewed flood-control measures at Gandhi Market, the civic official accompanying the inspection team fell into an open manhole. (Ai-enhanced screen grab) 
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