A 26-year-old construction worker died after falling from the fifth floor of an under-construction building in Bolinj, Virar West, on Saturday morning, according to a report by Loksatta – Vasai-Virar. The incident has renewed concerns over safety arrangements at construction sites in the Vasai-Virar region, where the report said it was the fourth fatal construction-related accident recorded in about a month.
The deceased worker was identified as Ramzan Riyazul Sheikh. He was working at the Samarth Balaji housing construction site in Bolinj when he reportedly lost his balance at around 8.30 a.m. and fell from the fifth floor.
Sheikh sustained serious head injuries in the fall, and witnesses reported heavy bleeding from his nose and mouth. Local residents took him to Virar Rural Hospital, but medical officers declared him dead before admission, the report said.
The Bolinj police station has recorded the death. The report did not provide details of any arrest, prosecution or official finding determining responsibility for the accident.
Loksatta reported that workers and residents had raised concerns about alleged violations of construction safety rules, including the reported failure to use helmets, safety belts and other protective equipment. These claims were presented in the report as concerns surrounding the incident and were not accompanied by a quoted statement from a municipal or labour-safety authority.
The report also listed three other fatal incidents involving construction or work-at-height activities in the wider Vasai-Virar area. On May 5, a worker identified as Kavita Sahu, 28, reportedly died after falling from the eighth floor of a building on Achole Road in Nalasopara. On August 5, Subhashchandra Vishwakarma, 33, reportedly fell from a height of about 25 feet at a factory near Vaitarna Road, where the report alleged that safety equipment had not been provided.
Two further incidents were reported in August. Sadikul Sohab Sheikh, 43, reportedly died after falling while painting the Rashmi Star City building in Naigaon East on August 13. On August 23, Mursalim Momin, 22, reportedly fell from the 15th floor while carrying out painting work at a 22-storey building in the Babhola area of Vasai West.
The dates listed in the report span May to August, although the incident was described as the fourth fatal accident in a month. The report also said that residents had accused the Vasai-Virar municipal administration of failing to take the issue seriously. No response from the municipal administration was included in the supplied report.
The police recording of the death and any subsequent investigation into site safety, protective equipment and responsibility remain the next official steps in the Bolinj case.
