A tragic incident in Delhi’s Rohini area has left the community reeling after a 32-year-old labourer, Birju Kumar Rai, fell to his death into an uncovered manhole. This incident follows closely on the heels of another mishap involving the death of a 25-year-old private bank employee, who fell into a pit allegedly dug by the Delhi Jal Board.
On February 10, 2026, police received a distress call around 2:36 p.m., reporting a missing person believed to have fallen into a sewer on vacant DDA land in Sector 32. Amir Hussain, a friend of the deceased, reported that Birju had been missing since February 9. A police team quickly arrived at the scene to investigate.
During interviews, another labourer, identified as Budhan Das, revealed that he and Birju had been drinking together the previous night. He recounted that while returning to their jhuggi, Birju lost his balance and fell into the open manhole at approximately 7:30 p.m. Budhan admitted to delaying the report of the incident, stating that he was intoxicated at the time.
The police were alerted only after Budhan regained his senses and contacted Amir on the afternoon of February 10. Upon arrival, authorities notified the fire brigade and the DDA to initiate a rescue operation. Tragically, Birju’s body was later recovered from the manhole with the fire brigade’s assistance. The remains were sent for a post-mortem examination as investigations continued.
Witnesses helped paint a clearer picture of the events. Sunil Kumar, another friend of Birju, stated that his companion had expressed a desire to take his family to a doctor prior to the incident, highlighting Birju’s previous intentions to care for his loved ones. “We found one of his slippers inside the sewer. As we approached to identify it, we realized he must have fallen into the open manhole,” Sunil shared. He emphasized that the tragedy should be blamed on the government’s negligence, asserting, “If the sewer had been properly covered, he would not have lost his life.”
The Rohini incident underscores ongoing concerns regarding safety in the city’s infrastructure, particularly following the recent death of the young bank employee in Janakpuri, also attributed to an unsafe condition involving a pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board. In that case, police have already arrested two men, and officials are investigating accountability regarding the maintenance of the sewer system and the responsibilities of local agencies.
Authorities are actively collecting witness statements and inspecting CCTV footage to garner more information and ensure a thorough investigation. The community is left mourning, reflecting on the preventable loss of life and calling for urgent reforms to enhance safety measures within Delhi’s urban infrastructure.
This series of incidents raises essential questions about public safety protocols and the accountability of civic agencies. Ongoing inquiries aim to shed light on how such tragedies can be prevented in the future, striving to protect the lives of citizens navigating the city’s landscape.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/man-dies-after-falling-in-uncovered-manhole-in-delhis-rohini/article70618363.ece
Category : Delhi
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Publish Date: 2026-02-11 10:44:00
