The discovery of a human skeleton inside an unused water tank atop a chawl in Manikpur, Vasai West, sent shockwaves through the locality on Sunday morning. The tank, which had remained out of use for several years, was being demolished when workers stumbled upon skeletal remains, prompting an immediate police response. According to officials, the remains were found inside a two-storey residential chawl named Barkulya, located in the Phadbav Shejol area of Manikpur village. The nearly 30-year-old building houses around 10 rooms and is primarily occupied by hawkers who operate near Vasai railway station.
The incident came to light during demolition work on the old water tank situated on the terrace. When labourers partially broke the northern wall of the tank using heavy machinery, they noticed fragments of bones and a skull. The Manikpur police were alerted immediately and rushed to the spot. A thorough search of the tank led to the recovery of a skull, several bones, and pieces of clothing, including a shirt and trousers. Preliminary observations indicate that the remains are likely those of a male, with the body having decomposed completely over a long period.
Maintenance supervisor Suresh Almeida, 46, who oversees the property belonging to his aunt, stated that the terrace access gate had remained locked for the past two years. He added that the tank had not been in use as residents relied entirely on municipal water supply, and no foul odour had ever been noticed from the area.
The skeletal remains have been sent to a forensic laboratory for detailed examination. Police have registered a case of unnatural death under Section 194 and are investigating both accidental death and possible foul play. Authorities are currently reviewing missing persons records from the past five years to establish the identity of the deceased. Initial suspicion suggests that the individual may have been a hawker aged between 35 and 40 years. Investigators are also analysing the tailor’s label found on the recovered clothing as a possible lead.
In a related development, police are examining whether the case has any connection with an incident last year, in which three hawkers lost their lives due to a gas leak in a room within the same chawl. Officials have stated that all angles are being thoroughly probed to uncover the truth behind the mysterious discovery.