Youth falls into ditch dug up by BMC, dies

A 24-year-old man died after he fell into a ditch dug up by the BMC for sewerage work on Friday at Dahisar (East).

A 24-year-old man died after he fell into a ditch dug up by the BMC for sewerage work on Friday at Dahisar (East).

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Dahisar resident Sandeepgar Goswami was working as a property broker. Police said Goswami left his house around 9pm on Thursday on his bike to meet his friends. When he did not return till late, his parents assumed he had stayed back with his friends.

Around 8am on Friday, the Dahisar police received a call from the control room about a body found at Ketkipada. Goswami's body was removed by firefighters from the eight-ft deep ditch. He was taken to Bhagwati Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Police said it appeared that Goswami lost balance, fell and got entangled in the cables in the ditch, which may have suffocated him. “We have registered a case of accidental death. There does not seem to be any negligence on BMC’s part as the area was barricaded,” said Ansar Peerzade, senior inspector, Dahisar police station.

However, the locals said the barricades near the ditch were put only after the mishap occurred. The police said they have sent the viscera for chemical analysis to ascertain the exact cause of death and whether Goswami was under the influence of alcohol. The body has been handed over to the family.