A section of the false ceiling collapsed at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) K/North Ward office in Jogeshwari on Friday, narrowly missing civic employees. The incident occurred outside the cabin of Assistant Municipal Commissioner Rupali Kadam at the office building, which was inaugurated around six months ago.
Apart from the ceiling collapse, several cabins in the newly constructed office also reported water leakage following recent rainfall. Employees expressed concern over the quality of construction, alleging that substandard materials may have been used during the building’s construction.
Staff members have demanded a comprehensive structural inspection of the entire office and immediate repair work, while urging the civic administration to ensure better construction standards to safeguard employees in the future.
The incident comes amid increasing scrutiny of the BMC’s preparedness during the ongoing monsoon season. Since the southwest monsoon arrived in Mumbai on June 23, the city has witnessed widespread waterlogging across several areas, along with multiple rain-related fatalities.
Among the recent incidents, an 11-year-old student lost his life after a tree fell on a moving school bus in Chembur on June 30. On July 4, an 18-year-old motorcyclist died after a tree branch fell on him in Aarey Colony during heavy rain. A day later, a 63-year-old man was killed when a tree collapsed onto a shop in Kurla (West).
Earlier this month, a 55-year-old man died after falling into an open manhole during heavy rainfall. Officials said the manhole cover had been removed for maintenance work being carried out by a private contractor.
The incident prompted sharp criticism from the Bombay High Court, which questioned the BMC’s approach towards public safety. Hearing the matter on July 6, a bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata described the civic body’s affidavits and progress reports on open manholes as “good for nothing and merely an eyewash”.
The BMC informed the court that four officials responsible for the concerned area had been suspended following the incident. However, the court stressed that preventive action was more important than action taken after a tragedy.
“What you (BMC) have done after such an incident is not important. What you do to prevent such untoward incidents is what matters. Life is precious. Human lives are of paramount importance,” the court remarked.
Source: NDTV
