Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 25: A case has been registered at Urwa police station against officials of the Mangaluru City Municipal Corporation (MCC) following a tragic incident where an auto-rickshaw driver fell into a stormwater drain and drowned.
The victim, Deepak Acharya, was driving his auto-rickshaw, registration number KA-19-AE-4260, near Kottara when he fell into a drain passing under Tiruvu Road near Yamuna Paradise Apartment. The incident, which occurred amid heavy rainfall, resulted in Deepak's death.
The case against MCC officials alleges that their negligence led to the fatal accident. Hema, Deepak's sister, accused the MCC of causing her brother's death by failing to construct a proper wall beside the drain. "Due to the negligence of the Mangaluru city corporation, they failed to construct a wall beside the drain. Due to the heavy rain, the drain was overflowing onto the main road, making it difficult for vehicles to distinguish between the road and the drain," she said.
Hema further lamented the loss, stating, "The MCC claimed the life of my brother. He was the breadwinner for our family and took care of our mother. He took a shortcut to reach home due to the heavy rain, but unfortunately, due to MCC's negligence, he lost his life. We learned about his death around 3 am."
The site of the incident lacked safety measures, with no wall constructed around the drain, and no barricades or warning signs were put up to prevent such accidents. In response to the incident, MCC officials have taped off the entire stretch near Kottara Chowki, covering the drain. Additionally, a section of the wall attached to the drain collapsed near Mahesh College in Kottara Chowki.