BROKEN MANHOLE C0VERS: DEATH TRAP IN A NEW AVATAR??

In Mumbai, broken manhole covers are a common sight. In fact, in April, a 40-year-old Mulund lady was walking on the footpath at Devidayal Road in Mulund West when, suddenly, her leg got entangled in the broken lid of a gutter and she was badly injured. The lady not only sustained serious injuries, but the family had to spend a whopping Rs. 3 lacs on medication and surgery!!!

The accident of the Mulund lady is not an isolated case. Tragically, many Mumbaikars have lost their lives falling prey to such ‘death traps’ but, alas, the apathetic BMC pays no heed. Unfortunately, Mulund’s Madan Mohan Malviya Road, the road connecting Mehul Circle from L.B.S. Marg is also infested with many broken and wrecked manhole covers. Hence, the road is proving to be a death trap for the pedestrians.

What is most tragic is that the road has three schools in its vicinity. The innocent school students, unaware of the danger, cross this dangerous road daily risking their life. At night, the road becomes more dangerous as in the absence of streetlights the manhole covers are not visible, posing a major threat to the life of pedestrians. Hence, residents of the area are terrified and are posing a question to the BMC: “Accidentally, if a student becomes the victim of such broken manhole then who will be held responsible for the mishap?”

Sachin Singh, a local resident angry over the pathetic conditions of the manhole covers, told Home Times, “I am a regular commuter on Madan Mohan Malviya Road. During the past few weeks, I have noticed that lids of many manholes and gutters on this road are in a pitiable condition. They are so wrecked that they need urgent repairs or must be replaced with new lids at the earliest. However, instead of changing them on a war footing, the callous BMC has just put up ‘warning’ boards. But, people complain that at night even the boards are not visible.”

Commenting on the ruthlessness of BMC, Sachin blasted, “The area has two or three schools and innocent students cross this dangerous road. Hence, it is advisable that before any untoward accident occurs involving school students or citizens, it would be prudent for BMC to repair or replace the lids with new covers.”

Sachin added, “The residents have made several complaints to BMC but, instead of changing the broken lids, the BMC staff has just put up warning boards and disappeared.”

“Soon, schools will begin and also the monsoon season will start. During monsoon people prefer to walk on the footpath, hence it is high time before the monsoon season starts the broken lid covers of all the manholes should be replaced or repaired,” he asserted.

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