Gujarat: Culpable Homicide Filed in Manhole Death

Following the death of a 43-year-old man who fell into an uncovered sewer in the Manjalpur area on December 26, police in Vadodara have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against those responsible for maintaining the site.

The victim, Vipulsinh Zala, son of a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, died after slipping into an open sewer on December 26. The case has been filed against the owners and staff of a private agency tasked with sewer maintenance at the location.

According to police, the complaint was lodged by Zala’s wife, Madhaviba Zala. She stated that the family had stepped out for dinner at roadside Chinese food stalls near Darbar Chowkdi, close to the Sports Complex in Manjalpur. During the outing, Zala walked away to park their vehicle nearby but did not return.

When repeated calls to his phone went unanswered and it was later found switched off, family members began searching the area. During the search, they noticed that the cover of a main sewer line near the Vadodara Municipal Corporation overhead and underground water tank compound was missing and lying to one side.

Using a mobile phone torch, the family spotted Zala’s footwear floating inside the drain. Local residents alerted emergency services, after which teams from the fire brigade and the 108 ambulance service arrived at the spot.

Zala was pulled out of the sewer, estimated to be around 20 to 25 feet deep, and rushed to a hospital, where doctors later declared him dead during treatment.

Police said preliminary findings point to serious safety lapses at the site. The sewer lid had allegedly been left open without barricades, warning boards or caution signs, despite the area being accessible to pedestrians and vehicles. Officials said such failures amounted to criminal negligence.

Based on the complaint, Manjalpur police registered an offence under Sections 105 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Eco Facility Management Services, the agency contracted for cleaning and maintenance work at the location. The case names the firm’s owners and employees responsible for the work. Further investigation is underway to fix individual accountability and to examine whether civic officials were also at fault.

Meanwhile, the VMC has initiated departmental action following an internal review. Additional assistant engineer Atul Bhalgamiya has been suspended after prima facie negligence was found. A notice has also been issued to deputy executive engineer Harikrishna Manani, seeking an explanation for alleged supervisory lapses.

In an official statement, the civic body reiterated that securing work sites, installing barricades and restricting public access during maintenance activities are mandatory safety requirements. The VMC has also begun proceedings to blacklist the contractor and has filed a separate police complaint against the firm.