Mumbai: Following the death of a 55-year-old man in an open drain inSakinaka, municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide said on Thursday that preliminaryfindings and CCTV footage pointed to serious lapses in mandatory safetymeasures at the work site. After reviewing CCTV footage, she said theseprecautions were absent.“I saw two workers attempting to warn pedestrians, but there were no properbarricades or tripod installed. People walking in a hurry cannot be expected torely only on verbal instructions. Because mandatory precautions were not taken,the pedestrian fell into the open manhole,” she said.Further, she said the incident was particularly concerning as the safety ofmanholes has been under constant scrutiny by the courts following similaraccidents in the past. “Because of the unsafe condition of manholes, suchincidents have occurred earlier as well. The high court has repeatedly soughtdetails from the BMC on measures being taken to secure manholes across thecity,” she said.The commissioner said Mumbai has 1,03,934 manholes associated with the stormwaterdrain and sewerage network. Of these, 96,383 have already been fitted withprotective safety nets. Around 1,800 manholes had been buried during previousroad works, while 4,446 had to be reopened for ongoing infrastructure projects.As these works are completed, the BMC has been reinstalling covers andprotective safety nets, she said, adding that BMC has submitted an affidavit toHC detailing these measures.Referring to the Sakinaka incident, Bhide said that in L ward, 75 manholesrequired protective nets as part of ongoing road works. As per the lateststatus, only four manholes were pending, including the one where maintenancework was underway when the accident occurred. “This was a rectangular sewagemanhole with a very heavy cover. During such operations, the contractor,supervisor and workers were required to barricade the site and install a tripodas part of the prescribed safety protocol,” she said.The civic chief said BMC had been conducting regular review meetings and fieldinspections over the past three months, with ensuring protective grills onmanholes emerging as one of its top priorities, particularly at locations whereroad construction required manhole covers to be removed.(Ends)

Navi Mumbai: The family of a 23-year-old pregnant woman has alleged negligence at NMMC’s Rajmata Jijau Hospital, Airoli, after she and her unborn child died due to complications she developed after getting a standard pre-delivery injection on July 1.Sonam Dongre, who was eight months pregnant, wasn’t the only critical case at the Airoli hospital on that day. Another eight-month pregnant woman, Richa Mishra, was administered two pre-delivery injections before becoming so critical that she was shifted to Fortis Hospital, Vashi, for ventilatory support.Due to separate sit-in protests by MNS, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena in the cabin of NMMC commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde, the NMMC on Thursday announced that the gynaecologist at its Airoli hospital has been suspended and an inquiry, including doctors from state-run JJ Hospital, has been instituted. Mishra’s condition has, meanwhile, improved.Sonam’s husband, Karan Dongre, told reporters that the Airoli hospital staff’s negligence resulted in the death of his wife and unborn child. He alleged that the on-duty doctors and nursing staff kept his wife at the Airoli hospital for three hours despite her worsening health after the injection. He was kept in the dark about the developments till they transferred her to the NMMC Hospital in Vashi on Wednesday, where she died during further treatment.Dr Rajesh Mhatre, medical officer of health (MOH) at NMMC, said, “Patient Sonam Dongre went to NMMC’s hospital in Airoli on June 30 after she developed cramps in the eighth month of her pregnancy. She was admitted for pre-mature delivery .”Around 3 pm on July 1, Dr Mhatre said, Sonam was administered a dexamethasone (steroid) injection to aid the baby’s lung development and reduce the risk of breathing problems if born prematurely. “But soon thereafter, her health deteriorated and she fell unconscious. The doctors continued to treat her and, as she was becoming critical, around 5.40 pm, she was admitted at NMMC hospital, Vashi ,” he said. However, she did not respond to medication and was declared dead around 6.15 pm.The second pregnant patient, Richa Mishra, was also administered injections of dexamethasone as well as duvadilan (to prevent premature labour by relaxing uterine muscles). “Mishra’s condition is stable and off the ventilator. She is responding correctly to orientation of time, place and person,” added Dr Mhatre.NMMC commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde announced a high-level inquiry committee under the chairmanship of the Thane district surgeon to investigate the cases. “The committee includes JJ Hospital’s department head, members of the Navi Mumbai Gynecology and Obstetrics Society, and NMMC’s medical officer of health ,” he said.“The inquiry committee will require at least 15 days to complete the investigation procedure,” Shinde added.The use of both injections administered to the two pregnant women has been stopped immediately and the entire batch of the procured injections have been sealed and their samples sent to the Food and Drug Administration, Thane.The gynaecologist at the Airoli hospital, Dr Bhawana Pagare, was suspended by the civic chief Shinde with immediate effect for “neglect” from July 2 till the inquiry committee’s report. “She is suspended till the inquiry committee submits its report and the commissioner issues further orders ,” said an NMMC official.

Bhiwandi/Patna: Thane police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the state Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak case, arrested three more accused on Thursday, including the alleged close aide of absconding mastermind Bijendra Gupta, taking the total number of arrests in the case to seven.The prime accused, Kapil Dahiya (30), was picked up from his native village in Sonipat, Haryana. The other two, identified as Mithun Kumar Singh (33), and Sonu Kumar Singh (34), were arrested from Bihar for allegedly helping Gupta evade arrest by preparing forged identity documents.Police produced all three before a Bhiwandi court, which remanded them to police custody till July 9.According to the SIT, Dahiya was present in Bhiwandi on the day the police arrested the three accused while they were allegedly negotiating the sale of the leaked TET question paper a day before the examination.However, investigators said Dahiya left for Pune to allegedly deliver or sell the leaked paper to another prospective buyer.Defence counsel Narendra Gupta argued that Dahiya merely came to Mumbai as a tourist and was arrested only on suspicion without any direct evidence linking him to the crime. Police told the court that Sonu Kumar Singh allegedly arranged a vehicle belonging to Mithun Kumar Singh to facilitate Gupta’s escape after the case came to light. During a raid at Sonu’s Quick Enterprises, investigators allegedly recovered a computer containing scanned copies of forged identity documents bearing Gupta’s photograph but prepared in the fake name of Abhishek Mahto. The documents included an Aadhaar card, PAN card and driving licence, which police believe were created to help the absconding accused conceal his identity.Investigators also seized several question papers from the shop, which are suspected to be related to the leaked TET examination. The documents have been sent for forensic examination to determine whether they match the leaked paper circulated before the exam.Sonu’s brother said, “When we reached the cyber cafe, we found that a raid was under way. The investigation team told us Sonu was arrested in connection with the Maharashtra TET paper leak case. They are also searching for my younger brother Vikas, who lives in Patna,” he said. (Inputs by Kshitiz)

Navi Mumbai: Flamingos have begun their annual departure from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) with the arrival of the monsoon, ending a migration season marked by delayed arrivals and sharply lower numbers, conservationists said.Birdwatchers reported that flamingos have disappeared from NRI wetland in Navi Mumbai, while their numbers at Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS), a Ramsar site of global importance, have also dwindled. “These are clear indications that the flamingo season has ended for now,” said environmentalist B N Kumar.Greens said every winter, thousands of flamingos arrive at TCFS before spreading to satellite wetlands such as the NRI wetland, DPS Flamingo Lake, T S Chanakya wetland, and the Bhandup pumping station in search of food.Bird lovers said that this season, however, stood out for the wrong reasons. The migratory birds arrived much later than usual, and their numbers were significantly lower than in previous years. “The delayed arrival and reduced population are warning signals. They reflect the combined impact of climate change and the deteriorating condition of our wetlands,” said a wildlife photographer.Environmentalists pointed to the worsening quality of creek water feeding the wetlands. Untreated sewage, pollution, siltation and impaired tidal flow degraded the mudflats where flamingos fed on algae, plankton and small aquatic organisms.The ecological condition of DPS Flamingo Lake, which is part of the NRI wetland complex, has steadily worsened, while the adjoining TS Chanakya wetland has also suffered degradation due to neglect and developmental pressures, said Kumar, who spearheaded the campaign that won Navi Mumbai recognition as ‘Flamingo City’.Conservationists cautioned that unless these fragile ecosystems were restored and protected, MMR could see not only shorter flamingo seasons, but also a continuing decline in the number of these winter visitors.

BMC’s proposal to convert nearly 8,450 sq m of the Neville D’Souza Football Ground into a convention centre has triggered protests from footballers, coaches, local residents, sports associations and even politicians

Mumbai: Concern over the future of Neville D’Souza Football Ground in Bandra West echoed in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, with NCP MLC Zeeshan Siddique urging the state government to protect one of Mumbai’s most important football venues from redevelopment.Siddique on Wednesday said the ground serves thousands of footballers and has played a key role in nurturing sporting talent in the city. He warned that the steady loss of playgrounds and open spaces was harming the development of football and other sports in Mumbai.“We often ask why India does not qualify for the FIFA World Cup or why Indian footballers do not feature regularly in top international clubs. How will our players reach that level if we continue taking away their grounds?” Siddique asked, calling for immediate intervention by the state government.The issue has gained prominence amid opposition to BMC’s proposal to convert nearly 8,450 sq m of the Neville D’Souza Football Ground into a convention centre. The proposal has triggered protests from footballers, coaches, local residents and sports associations, who argue that the city cannot afford to lose one of its few dedicated football facilities.Named after Neville D’Souza, the first Indian footballer to score a hat-trick at the Olympic Games, the ground has long been a hub for grassroots coaching, school tournaments, local leagues and competitive football.The Mumbai Football Association, along with several clubs and football academies, has also voiced concern over the proposed change in land use. Supporters of the ground argue that Mumbai is already facing an acute shortage of playgrounds and sports infrastructure, making preservation of existing facilities critical.The issue has also acquired political significance, with leaders across party lines expressing concern that replacing sports grounds with built infrastructure would undermine efforts to promote sporting culture among youngsters.Siddique urged the government to safeguard the ground for future generations, saying that preserving sports infrastructure is essential if Mumbai and the country hope to produce world-class football talent and encourage greater participation in the sport.Key demands by footballers and citizens include:* Withdrawal of the proposal to convert the football ground into a convention centre* Retention of the entire land exclusively for sports and recreation* Long-term protection of the ground through a permanent playground reservation* Consultation with football associations, residents and sports bodies before any change in land use* A broader policy to safeguard Mumbai’s playgrounds from commercial or non-sporting development