Teddy, steady, don’t go: Soft toy alert on manhole cover in Bhayander

Sources said cracks surfaced on the manhole cover two months earlier, owing to shoddy construction

A sweeper from the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) came up with a novel way to cover a cracked manhole cover in the middle of one of the city’s roads - putting a huge red teddy bear over it.

The teddy bear over the manhole near Mandli pond. (Azim Tamboli)

The sweeper, who placed the bear over the manhole near Mandli pond a few weeks ago, said his intention was to alert motorists and avert accidents.

Sources said cracks surfaced on the manhole cover two months earlier, owing to shoddy construction. However, repairs are yet to be initiated.

The MBMC commissioner was unavailable for comment.

Past incidents

Recently, a truck overturned when few slabs cracked constructed over a nullah cracked.There were no casualties. Earlier this month, a buffalo was trapped inside an open manhole. The fire brigade rescued it a few hours later.