Day after woman dies in pit, BMC fines contractor

A day after a 60-year-old woman died when she fell into a pit dug by civic contractors, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 to MCR Consortium, which was carrying out the pipeline repair work at Wadala.

A day after a 60-year-old woman died when she fell into a pit dug by civic contractors, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 to MCR Consortium, which was carrying out the pipeline repair work at Wadala.

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Finding violations in the security of the area, the BMC also served a show-cause notice asking them to explain the incident.

On Wednesday morning, Marriamma Naidu fell into the pit dug up to replace the Storm Water Drain at Wadala (East). Passersby took her to the Mumbai Port Trust hospital, but she was declared dead on arrival.

“The BMC has fined the company Rs 50,000 and issued a show-cause notice asking why they should not be held responsible for the accident. He will have to reply within seven days to the notice,” said Laxman Vhatkar chief engineer, civic storm water drain department.

Vhatkar said Naidu’s family would get compensation from contractor.

Denying allegations that there was no barricade around the pit, he said there were barricades but were not sufficient and the woman slipped in from the area which was not barricaded. The BMC took serious note of the incident and assured framing the compensation policy for victims, who have died or injured after falling into open drains and trenches.

The police have registered a case of causing death due to negligence against the contractor.