**Tragic Incident Highlights Dangers of Uncovered Manholes in Maharashtra**
The heartbreaking death of a 13-year-old boy, Ayush Kadam, who was swept away in an open drain during heavy rains in Dombivli, has once again brought attention to the dangers posed by uncovered manholes in urban Maharashtra. The incident occurred on the night of September 28, when Ayush, a Class VIII student at Swami Vivekanand School, was playing with friends near the Bharat Bhoir nullah. He accidentally fell into an uncovered chamber and was quickly swept away by the strong current before his friends could rescue him. Despite a frantic search by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) fire brigade, his body was recovered an hour later.
This tragic event has ignited protests in the local community, with residents expressing their anger towards the civic authorities for negligence. KDMC officials, however, stated that the drain and the adjacent road were under the jurisdiction of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which was reportedly conducting repair work in the area.
The incident has drawn parallels to the 2017 death of Dr. Deepak Amrapurkar, a gastroenterologist who was killed when he was washed into an open manhole during flooding in Prabhadevi. Following that tragedy, the Bombay High Court mandated municipal corporations to install protective grills in manholes. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) complied with this directive, other civic bodies, including KDMC, have not yet implemented the necessary safety measures.
Advocate Ruju Thakkar, who has filed a petition regarding the issue, raised the incident in the Bombay High Court, urging for an expedited hearing. The bench, consisting of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh Patil, indicated that they would address the issue of potholes on October 6, at which time Thakkar was encouraged to bring up the manhole concerns.
Thakkar emphasized the ongoing civic negligence, stating, “Had grills been installed, this boy would have been alive today.” The Dombivli incident has intensified calls for accountability from civic agencies regarding the management of open drains and manholes, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures to prevent further tragedies.
As the High Court prepares to issue an order on potholes next week, the community’s demand for stricter oversight of public safety infrastructure remains critical.
**FAQ**
**What safety measures are being called for after the Dombivli incident?**
There are calls for the installation of protective grills in manholes and increased accountability from civic agencies to prevent similar tragedies in the future.