Woman’s death in drain: BMC probe findings say Metro firm, its contractor responsible for site

Days after a 45-year-old woman died by falling into an open storm water drain in Andheri, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) and its appointed contractor is responsible for executing repairs on the identified defects and incomplete work on the site of the accident.

Amid heavy rain lashing the city on September 25, a 45-year-old woman, Vimal Anil Gaikwad, who was returning home in Powai’s Milind Nagar, died after falling into an open Storm Water Drain (SWD) outlet at Andheri East’s MIDC area. In the aftermath of the incident, the BMC initiated a high level probe. Issuing a statement, civic authorities had said that municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani had appointed a probe committee which was expected to submit a report within three days.
On Monday, the committee submitted its findings to the civic chief with the report stating that MMRCL and its contractor–who has been appointed to execute work on the metro project work–are responsible for rectification of the defects identified at the site of the accident. According to the report, the site and surrounding area have been in the possession of MMRCL’s contractor since 2015.
“The K East ward had informed the contractor about the errors, which they had found during the actual site inspection. Furthermore, the contractor had informed MMRCL through letters dated August 24 and 29 that they will comply with the findings and fix the defects identified by the municipal corporation within the Defect Liability Period (DLP). Therefore, the BMC has concluded that MMRCL’s contractor and MMRCL are responsible for making good the defects at the accident site,” said the civic body in a statement issued Monday.
For the record, the BMC had issued a letter to the contractor dated July 11, asking them to fix the defects and incomplete work on the site. “During the site inspection, shortfalls/defects were observed at the site including damaged road dividers, damaged stamp concrete on the footpath, cracks on the newly constructed road surface, incomplete work in SWD network, among others,” read part of the letter.
When contacted, an MMRCL spokesperson said, “We will check the factual position and issue our response.”
Meanwhile, the committee also stated that considering that the site was a main road and there was a red alert in place, BMC officials should also have remained vigilant.
The committee was headed by deputy municipal commissioner Devidas Kshirsagar, chief fire officer Ravindra Ambulgekar and BMC’s vigilance officer Avinash Tambewagh.