BMC's one-man panel to probe into Mumbai doc's death

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has formed a one-member committee on Friday to investigate the death of renowned gastroenterologist Dr Deepak Amrapurkar, who is suspected to have died after falling into an open manhole in Lower Parel while returning home during Tuesday’s heavy downpour.

BMC’s additional municipal commissioner Vijay Singhal has been asked to hold the inquiry and submit a report within 15 days. Meanwhile, taking a lesson from the mishap, the BMC has started repairing open manholes across the city on priority basis.

“Due to heavy rains on August 29, there was flooding in areas like Senapati Bapat Marg, Fitwalla Lane and SL Matkar Marg in G-South ward. In an attempt to clear the water quickly, someone opened the manhole of storm water drain, into which deceased Dr Amrapurkar was suspected to have fallen,” said the letter issued by BMC chief Ajoy Mehta directing a probe into the matter.

Mr Singhal has been asked to hold a detailed inquiry into the mishap, the reasons behind the mishap and the proposed future action and measures to be taken to avoid such incidents, said civic officials.

The body of Dr Amrapurkar, who went missing on August 29 when torrential rains had flooded most parts of the city, was recovered by Coast Guard divers on Thursday morning from a spot at the Worli seashore. It is suspected that his body was washed ashore after he fell into an open manhole in Lower Parel, while walking through flooded streets to reach his Prabhadevi-based residence.

The doctor had abandoned his car and decided to walk a stretch of 10 minutes from the Elphinstone Road railway station, while returning home. His body was identified by the wristwatch he was wearing.

Taking a lesson from the mishap, the BMC has started taking cognisance of residents’ complaints to repair open manholes across the city. In F/North ward, the civic officials immediately repaired an open manhole after an alert citizen brought the issue to their notice.