Mumbai Rains: Two Women Fall Into Open Manhole, Survive; CCTV Footage Goes Viral

As heavy rain lashed several parts of Mumbai, two women had a narrow escape as they fell into an uncovered manhole in Bhandup district on June 9. While both of them escaped unharmed, a video of the incident quickly went viral. Following heavy rains, the entire Bhandup village road was submerged in floodwater, with water pressure so high that manholes opened up. The video clip shows a woman walking on a water-logged pavement amid heavy rains. Suddenly, she fell into the open manhole, which she couldn't spot as it was filled with water. Within minutes, another woman fell into the manhole. After social media users slammed Mumbai's civic body, BMC, for the lapse, it said the manhole has been covered. As part of pre-monsoon exercise, each of the 24-ward offices in Mumbai is required to inspect all manholes and replace lids wherever necessary. Reacting to the June 9 incident, BJP MP Manoj Kotak said, “The richest civic body of India, BMC, is incapable of keeping manholes unclogged and sewerage (system) clean.”