Man dies after falling into open drain in Rohini, days after Janakpuri biker death

New Delhi: A 32-year-old man died after falling into an open drain near the Mahashakti Kali Temple in Rohini Sector 32, Begumpur area of north-west Delhi, police said on Tuesday.

According to officials, a PCR call was received at around 2:36 pm reporting a missing person suspected of having fallen into a sewer on vacant Delhi Development Authority (DDA) land. Police teams rushed to the spot, where the caller, Amir Hussain, informed them that his friend, Birju Kumar Rai, had fallen into an open manhole.

Another labourer, Budhan Das, also known as Suraj, told police that he and Birju had consumed alcohol on Monday night. While returning to their jhuggi around 7:30 pm, Birju allegedly lost his balance and fell into the open manhole. Das admitted that he did not inform anyone at the time as he was intoxicated and only disclosed the incident to Hussain the following afternoon after regaining his senses.

Police said that the fire brigade, DDA and other concerned agencies were immediately informed and a rescue operation was launched. The victim’s body was eventually recovered from the manhole with the help of the fire brigade and sent to hospital for further legal formalities. An investigation is ongoing.

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However, local residents and social workers alleged delays and negligence by the authorities. Social worker Mahesh Kumar claimed that although police personnel from Begumpur police station were present at the site, the fire brigade was initially absent.

“A few passers-by informed us. Some police officials were here, but there was no fire brigade. After dialling 100, the fire brigade was contacted. When they arrived around 7:15 pm, they said they had no prior information. A private ambulance was called and the body was taken away,” Kumar told ANI.

Another resident, Sunil Kumar, confirmed the victim’s identity as Birju Kumar from Samastipur district in Bihar. He said the administration had been informed earlier, but the body was recovered only later in the evening.

Resident Tejpal Yadav alleged that the authorities acted only after repeated calls. “The man had been lying in the pit since the previous night. His friends informed the police administration around 4 pm, but no department was alerted. I dialled 112, and within 15 minutes, all departments reached the spot,” he said.

Yadav further criticised the DDA, claiming that officials arrived with manhole covers and hurriedly sealed open drains after the incident. “Only a beat officer was present initially. The body was finally recovered around 8 to 8:30 pm,” he added.

The incident comes just days after a 25-year-old man died in West Delhi’s Janakpuri area after his motorcycle plunged into an uncovered pit allegedly dug by the Delhi Jal Board during roadwork, raising renewed concerns over public safety and civic negligence.

(ANI)