A 55-year-old contractual sanitation worker, Angamma Devendra, was crushed to death under a Bobcat beach-cleaning machine at Juhu beach on Friday morning. The Santacruz police have registered a case against the machine's operator, Kaushik Hajra (22), for allegedly causing death by negligence.
Details of the Incident
Devendra and Hajra, both residents of Juhu's Nehru Nagar area, were employed by Pratisthan Sanstha, which was contracted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for cleaning Juhu beach. A civic official stated, "We will be carrying out an investigation into the incident and will take action against the organisation, if it is found to be at fault."
According to the police, the incident occurred around 10 am when Devendra and five to six other workers were seated in the bucket of the Bobcat machine while it was in motion. The machine went into a pit, causing Devendra to lose her balance and fall. She allegedly came under the machine's left wheel and sustained severe injuries. She was rushed to Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle West, where doctors declared her 'brought dead'.
Legal Action Taken
Hajra was booked under Section 106(1) (causing death by negligence) along with other applicable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. During questioning, Hajra reportedly told police that he had asked the woman not to sit in the machine's bucket, but Devendra ignored his instruction and remained seated. No arrest has been made yet.
This tragic incident highlights the risks faced by sanitation workers and raises questions about safety protocols. The BMC has promised a thorough investigation.
