MUMBAI: Just two days after a tree collapse killed an 11-year-old schoolboy in Chembur, a 55-year-old man, Aslam Isak Shaikh, died after falling into an open manhole at Sakinaka amid the wet spell, prompting BMC commissioner Ashwini Bhide to order suspension of four civic officials — an assistant commissioner and three engineers.The incident occurred at around 11am Thursday when Shaikh, a daily wage labourer, was walking along Sakinaka’s Khairani Road while speaking on his mobile. Officials said BMC-appointed labourers had been working at the spot to place a protective grille around the open manhole. As Shaikh approached the manhole, workers reportedly shouted to alert him, but he lost his balance and fell.The labourers lowered a ladder into the manhole to rescue Shaikh, but could recover only his umbrella and slippers, civic officials said. The strong flow of water made it impossible to determine in which direction he had been swept away. After the fire brigade arrived, rescue personnel wearing breathing apparatus entered the sewer line through a nearby circular manhole. Shaikh was eventually pulled out and rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.Just a little over a week ago, a BMC staffer fell waistdeep into an open drain a few feet away from where mayor Ritu Tawde was standing during her inspection of a flooded area in King Circle.
