In a tragic incident at Nagpada, four workers lost their lives due to suffocation while cleaning an underground water tank of a building. The Sir J.J. Marg police have registered a case of negligence and arrested two supervisors in connection with the case. The accused have been charged with failing to provide necessary safety equipment to the workers.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Abdul Dalim Sheikh (35) and Animesh Vishwas (33), both residents of the Nagpada area. The police registered the case based on a complaint filed by constable Dhanraj Jhipru Mahale (52) from Sir J.J. Marg Police Station. The charges have been filed under Sections 106(1), 125, and 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code. Following the complaint, a police team apprehended the accused from Nagpada on Sunday midnight.
According to the complaint, the basement of the under-construction Bismillah Space building on Dimtimkar Road in Nagpada had remained closed for a long time. Without conducting any prior safety inspection, the accused instructed the workers to enter the underground water tank for cleaning. It has been alleged that the workers were not provided with any safety gear before being sent into the confined space, leading to their suffocation and death.
The incident took place on Sunday afternoon when the workers, employed by a private cleaning company hired by the society, entered the deep water tank. Due to insufficient oxygen levels, they soon started experiencing breathing difficulties. Upon receiving information, the fire brigade, police, and municipal authorities rushed to the scene. The fire brigade managed to rescue five workers and rushed them to J.J. Hospital for treatment. However, four of them were declared dead.
The deceased workers have been identified as Haseebul Sheikh (19), Raja Sheikh (20), Jiullah Sheikh (36), and Imandu Sheikh (38). Another worker, Purhan Sheikh (31), is in critical condition and is undergoing treatment at J.J. Hospital.
The arrested supervisors will be produced before the court on Monday. The police are continuing their investigation into the incident.