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Less than a week after a fatal road accident in Janakpuri, an open sewer has claimed another life in Delhi, highlighting recurring lapses in public safety. A man died after falling into an uncovered sewer in the Rohini area of the city’s north-west, police confirmed on Tuesday.
Initial assessments suggest the drain had been left exposed, with no protective cover in place.
The incident took place on Monday, but authorities were informed only the following day.
Police said Begumpur Police Station received details of the case at around 4 PM on Tuesday. Officers were immediately rushed to the location.
The victim was later identified as Birju Kumar, approximately 32 years old. He was a labourer who had migrated from Samastipur district in Bihar.
According to officials, Kumar’s death was caused by a fall into the open sewer.
Residents of the area stated that he was accompanied by another individual at the time.
That person, however, did not alert anyone immediately after the incident.
When Kumar failed to return, locals began searching for him. The companion then revealed what had happened, after which the police were informed.
Soon after, officials from multiple departments reached the site.
Anger spread among residents, who accused authorities of negligence.
Advocate Highlights Unsafe Conditions
Local advocate Tejpal Yadav told IANS that the two men were friends earning their livelihood as labourers. He said the sewer into which Kumar fell had no lid, adding that nearby drains were also uncovered at the time.
According to Yadav, lids were placed only after the fatality. He said that when he arrived at around 7 PM, Delhi Development Authority officials were already at the site, bringing and fixing sewer covers.
Yadav said he became suspicious after seeing private tankers present and began questioning the officials. He further added that a call to the emergency helpline number 112 revealed that no department had officially reported the incident.
Kumar’s family, his wife and children, were not living with him in Delhi, and he had been planning to return to his native village.
A resident said the road runs through the colony and is often used by children, despite the absence of covers on the drains.
Residents warned that unless the issue is addressed immediately, further accidents are inevitable.
The death has once again underlined persistent safety failures linked to open drains and unsecured infrastructure across the capital. It comes soon after the Janakpuri tragedy.
In that case, Kamal Dhyani, an assistant manager at the Rohini branch of HDFC Bank, was killed. His motorcycle plunged into a deep pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board for sewer work. The site was allegedly left without proper safeguards.
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