A resident of Mahim fishermen colony who worked in the water department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Rakesh was known for his benevolence and large-heartedness.
When 47-year-old Rakesh Nizab called up his family to inform that he will arrive home late due to an emergency that cropped up at his workplace, never did they imagine that he will return home lifeless.
"He was working in the second shift on Saturday and supposed to come home by 11 pm. However, he had to stay back for emergency work; but he never returned," said Rahul Nizab, brother of Rakesh Nizab who lost his life due to toxic gas suffocation inside water chamber at Nana Chowk. Rakesh is survived by his wife and two sons —14-year-old Nihar and 8-year-old Nikhil.
A resident of Mahim fishermen colony who worked in the water department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Rakesh was known for his benevolence and large-heartedness. He was employed as a ward boy in Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion before he started working in the water department.
On Saturday, Rakesh was asked to stay back for emergency work at Nana Chowk. Late at night, his elder brother Rajesh Nizab, who worked in the same department, received a call from the BMC workers who informed him about the incident.
"He was the only working member of his family," said Rakesh, fight back tears.
Remembering Rakesh, a retired BMC staff worker under who the deceased was trained, said, "I have known him ever since he started working with BMC. He was trained under me. I am shocked to hear about the incident."
"BMC is neglecting the safety of its workers. We demanded Rs 25 lakhs for the family of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh each for injured workers," said Govind Kamtekar, secretary of Municipal Mazdoor Union.
Refuting Kamtekar's claims, an engineer with the water department Ramesh Bhutekar said, "Workers follow all safety measures. However, after this incident, we instructed all the workers to take extra efforts to ensure safety."
"Byculla workshop is operational for the last 85 years. We had never heard such incident where toxic gas suffocated and killed workers," said Pravin Parab, an executive engineer from the Byculla water workshop, adding, "In an accident that occurred 4-5 years ago, one of our workers got an electric shock from a wire near water pipeline. However, this incident has come as a shocker for all."
DOUBLING SAFETY
- Secretary of Municipal Mazdoor Union Govind Kamtekar, accused BMC of neglecting safety of its workers
- BMC has however refuted the claims saying all safety measures are followed strictly
- After this incident, it has instructed all the workers to take extra efforts to ensure safety
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