Mumbai Woman's Death Puts Spotlight On Manhole Tragedies, What's Behind Them

Manhole covers are made of cast iron and fetch a good price in the black market, making them a preferred target of petty thieves.

The death of 45-year-old Vimal Anil Gaikwad after she fell into a manhole in a waterlogged street last night has put the spotlight on Mumbai's manhole tragedies and the lives they have claimed in the past few years.

This year alone, seven people have died in manhole tragedies in the Maximum City. Last month, Sunil Wakode, a labourer, opened a BMC manhole in Borivali West for cleaning drains without the civic body's permission. He died later. Earlier, in April, three people -- Raghu Solanki, Javed Shaikh and his brother Aqib Shaikh -- fell into a manhole in Malad East. Raghu had fallen into the 30-feet-deep manhole and brothers Javed and Aqib tried to save him. Raghu and Javed died in the incident.

In March, a manhole tragedy claimed three lives. Labourers Suraj Kevat, Bikas Kevat and Ramlagan Kevat were cleaning the sewer drain in Malad West when they fell into its chamber and died.