Rons Bantwal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 9: A 22-year-old woman, Sanskriti Amin, originally from Kinnigoli-Pakshikere, died after a cement block fell on her from Shivkunj Building in the Maharaja Bhavan area on Thakur Road, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai, on Thursday, October 9 morning.

Sanskriti, the only daughter of Anil and Padmavati Amin — owners of Padmavati Lawn and Multipurpose Hall in Kinnigoli and Kotyan Caterers in Mumbai — had left home around 9.30 am to go to her office. She was walking just a few metres from her residence when a cement block from a nearby construction site fell on her head. Her father, Anil Amin, immediately rushed her to HBT Trauma Care Hospital, but she was declared dead on arrival, confirmed assistant medical officer Dr Uzma.

Sanskriti resided with her parents and grandmother at Kirandevi Devendrasinh Chal, Jogeshwari East. She had completed a degree in hotel management and joined RBL Bank in Goregaon on September 29 to begin her professional career. Following post-mortem and formalities, her last rites were performed on Thursday morning at Rudrabhumi, Jogeshwari East.

According to BMTC Disaster Management Unit reports, the building was under redevelopment, with construction carried out by Shraddha Life and the ongoing work managed by Shraddha Construction. Local Meghawadi police recorded Anil Amin’s statement and have filed a complaint against the builder, contractor, engineer, and site supervisors for negligence.

Several dignitaries attended her funeral and paid their respects, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Jogeshwari East MLA Anant (Bala) B Nair, MNS Jogeshwari East president Bharat Arya, NCP (SP) Mumbai vice-president Lakshman C Poojary Chitrapu, Billawar Association Mumbai president Harish G Avin, Jay C Suvarna Abhimani and Mumbai Billawas convenor Suryakant J Suvarna, BMC East Zone committee member, NCP (SP) North-West district vice-president Niranjan Lakshman Poojary, and other office-bearers of the Billawar Association and local representatives.

Criticizing the growing number of accidents and deaths at construction sites, Lakshman Poojary Chitrapu questioned, “Where are the government, BMC, labour department, and safety audit teams? Permissions are granted for projects, but where is the safety verification? Every time a life is lost, only then do the files move. The name is Shraddha Constructions, meaning faith, but there is no faith in their actions. Are they building homes or graves?” He urged for stringent action against those responsible.

Suryakant Suvarna also condemned the negligence, stating that the death of the innocent young woman was the result of carelessness by the developer and construction authorities. “This incident marks yet another addition to the series of fatal accidents in Jogeshwari. Despite mandatory safety provisions under the Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers Act, the absence of safety measures even in licensed projects is shocking. This construction site has turned into a death trap,” he remarked.

Under the leadership of Harish G Avin, the Billawar Association Mumbai has begun preparations for a protest titled ‘Justice for Sanskruti’ in Jogeshwari to demand justice for the family. Harish Avin stated that this was not just an accident but a death caused by neglect and indifference. “We will fight for justice, and this incident should awaken the authorities and the citizens to act responsibly,” he added.