The political dispute escalated after Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi of the Shiv Sena openly demanded the resignation of Mayor Ritu Tawde of the Bharatiya Janata Party, holding her responsible for failing to act despite being informed about open manholes across the city.
"The Mayor took no action despite being informed about the open manholes. She must resign," Ghadi said.
The Deputy Mayor acknowledged that he also shared responsibility for the loss of life caused by the BMC's negligence but maintained that he had already alerted the concerned authorities about the issue. He placed direct responsibility on Mayor Ritu Tawde and BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, insisting that the Municipal Commissioner should also accept responsibility and resign over the incident.
The latest controversy has also brought the political differences between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena within the BMC into sharp focus. Following the civic body elections earlier this year, both alliance partners had engaged in prolonged negotiations over the Mayor's post. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena had asserted that the position had traditionally remained with the party, while the Bharatiya Janata Party, as the single largest party in the civic body, insisted on securing the post. The deadlock ended with a power-sharing arrangement under which the Bharatiya Janata Party secured the Mayor's position while the Shiv Sena received the Deputy Mayor's post.
Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Milind Deora also criticized the alliance-led BMC following the man's death. In a post on the social media platform X, he said, "Another life lost. Another preventable tragedy. How many more residents of Mumbai must die before basic civic safety becomes a priority? Open manholes are not accidents; they are the result of negligence, failed systems, and a lack of accountability. The Bombay High Court has repeatedly criticized the BMC over the recurring menace of open manholes and unsafe roads. Yet these entirely avoidable tragedies continue. Mumbai deserves answers."
The deceased disappeared after falling into the open manhole. His umbrella and slippers were recovered from the spot, prompting an extensive search operation involving the Mumbai Fire Brigade, the police, and the 108 emergency ambulance service. His body was recovered approximately two hours later.
Officials stated that the manhole cover had been left open because maintenance work was being carried out by a private contractor at the location.
Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi announced that the BMC would register a criminal case against the contractor, holding the contractor responsible for culpable homicide in connection with the incident.
Following the tragedy, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide convened an emergency meeting of senior civic officials to review the circumstances surrounding the death. The Commissioner sought a detailed report on the incident arising from alleged negligence and examined security lapses, the reasons why the manhole had remained uncovered, whether the concerned departments had implemented the required safety measures, and who should be held accountable.
The Commissioner directed the concerned departments to submit a comprehensive report and instructed officials to initiate strict action against anyone found responsible for negligence. The BMC is also reviewing the city's emergency preparedness, the condition of waterlogged areas, and measures being implemented to ensure the safety of residents during the monsoon season.
The manhole death occurred just two days after another tragic incident in Mumbai, in which an 11-year-old boy was killed and four others were injured when a tree was uprooted and fell onto a moving school bus in the Chembur area. Following a preliminary inquiry that found prima facie negligence, the BMC suspended a civic official in connection with that incident.
The latest fatality has intensified scrutiny of Mumbai's civic administration, placing the BMC under renewed pressure to address repeated allegations of negligence, improve public safety measures, and ensure accountability for preventable tragedies that continue to claim lives across the city.
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