Worker Dies After Falling into DDA Manhole in Rohini; Police File Case Against ‘Unknown’

New Delhi: Once again, negligence in the system has claimed an innocent life in the national capital. A laborer lost his life after falling into an open DDA manhole in the Rohini area of Delhi.

The deceased, Birju Kumar Rai (32), reportedly fell into the manhole while returning to his hut after consuming alcohol. While some accounts suggest his intoxication as a factor, authorities emphasize that systemic negligence cannot be absolved by blaming the victim. The manhole, which was covered only after his death, should have been properly secured beforehand.

Questions Raised After the Tragic Incident
Senior police officials confirmed that the Begumpur Police have registered a case against “unknown persons.” However, questions remain—if the manhole is on DDA property, why is the case filed against unidentified individuals? Officials clarified that eventually, the DDA and its responsible officers may be held accountable for the lapse.

The Incident
The incident occurred around 2:36 PM on Wednesday, when police received a PCR call reporting that a person had fallen into a sewer built on vacant DDA land in Rohini Sector-32. Eyewitness Ameer Hussain informed the police that his two friends, Budhan Das alias Suraj (33) and Birju Kumar Rai (32), were working as laborers. On Tuesday evening around 7:30 PM, while returning to their hut after consuming alcohol, Rai lost his balance and fell into the open manhole.

Delay in Reporting
Shockingly, Rai’s friend Suraj did not report the incident immediately, citing his own intoxication as the reason for failing to grasp the severity of the situation. It was only the next afternoon, after regaining sobriety, that Suraj informed Ameer Hussain, who then contacted the police. Rai’s body was retrieved from the manhole hours later with the help of the Fire Brigade, after which the manhole was finally covered.

This incident has once again highlighted public safety lapses and raised concerns over the maintenance of open utility structures in the capital.