Seventeen days after excavator operator Rakesh Kumar Yadav was feared trapped under debris at the Surya water pipeline site near the Varsova creek bridge on Thane Ghodbunder Road, the Indian Army and Navy have been enlisted to assist in the search operations. Yadav, along with his machine, became trapped when a portion of the soil caved in during excavation work. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who visited the site on Friday, assured stringent action against those found culpable for the incident.
The mishap occurred on May 29, when excavator operators reportedly warned site engineers from Larsen and Toubro, the company awarded the contract, about unstable soil conditions. Despite these warnings, the work proceeded, leading to the tragic incident.
The Surya water pipeline project, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) bulk water scheme, aims to alleviate the chronic water shortages in the Vasai-Virar and Mira-Bhayander regions. The project involves laying an 88 km pipeline and constructing Master Balancing Reservoirs at Mira-Bhayander and Vasai-Virar. The incident took place at around 9:30 pm, when the excavator was being lowered into a shaft for material loading from the tunnelling process. The soil, along with a 1,500-tonne wall, gave way, causing the excavator and Yadav to plummet to the bottom of the shaft. Additionally, a portable office container at the site also fell into the excavation. Local residents rushed to rescue six workers trapped inside the container office, which, fortunately, was not buried under debris, facilitating the rescue.
Initial search operations by the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) firemen and the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) were unable to locate Yadav or the excavator. CM Shinde announced the involvement of the Indian armed forces to bolster the search efforts.
Yadav’s family expressed frustration, alleging that search operations were halted four days ago and only resumed ahead of the Chief Minister’s visit. On Thursday night, JCB machines were observed returning to the site, fuelling concerns about the seriousness of the rescue efforts.
Palghar District officials stated that multiple agencies are engaged in the search operations. A team from the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) inspected the site conditions and structural stability; their report is awaited. The incident occurred during the connection of the underground pipeline to the Thane creek.
This tragedy highlights the critical need for stringent adherence to safety protocols in large-scale infrastructure projects. The ongoing investigation and the deployment of the armed forces underscore the gravity of the situation and the commitment to resolving it. As the search continues, the focus remains on accountability and ensuring such incidents are prevented in the future.
