Second Tragedy In Days, Man Loses Life After Plunging Into Open Manhole On Delhi Road

New Delhi: A painful accident in Rohini Sector-32 of Delhi has once again raised questions on the careless system of the city. Birju Kumar, a 23-year-old laborer, died after falling into the open drain of Delhi Development Authority built on the roadside. He was going to work as usual, but this route turned out to be his last journey.

How did the accident happen?

On Monday night, Birju was going towards the construction site on foot with his friend Suraj. Suraj told the police that he was drunk and was walking ahead. Birju was behind. Due to the darkness and open drain, no one knew when Birju fell into it.

Why did the friend try to hide the truth?

When people asked about Birju on Tuesday, Suraj first talked about kidnapping. Later he himself expressed suspicion that Birju might have fallen into the drain. After this the police and fire department were informed. His words further complicated the matter.

How much time did it take to take out the body?

As soon as the information was received, Delhi Police and fire brigade team reached the spot. A machine was installed to remove water from the drain. After about five hours of hard work, Birju's body was taken out at 9 pm. Begumpur police station is investigating.

Who was Birju and what did he do here?

Birju was a resident of Samastipur district of Bihar. He came to Delhi to earn his living and worked as a laborer in an under-construction building in Rohini. Lived with his friends on the site itself. The family probably had no idea that the son who had gone for work would not return.

Was the drain already a danger?

Local people say that the drain is about six feet deep. Slabs were laid at many places, but many parts were completely open. Had the lid been on, perhaps this accident would not have happened. People clearly say that this is less of an accident and more of negligence.

What did the administration do after the accident?

After the incident, the DDA team immediately arrived with slabs and started covering the open drains. Police barricaded the area. But people are angry as to why action is always taken only after the accident.

Have such accidents happened before?

This is not the first incident. Recently a young man died after falling into a pit in Janakpuri. In East Delhi, an elderly woman was injured after falling into an open pit of Delhi Jal Board. Repeated incidents clearly show that security arrangements are limited to paper only.

A laborer lost his life, but the question remains, will the responsible agencies still learn a lesson or will the next news be awaited?