Mumbai: The Malad police have registered an FIR against a contractor, a supervisor, and a JCB driver for allegedly failing to take security precautions, which led to the rupture of a Mahanagar Gas pipeline and a subsequent fire in the Malad West area. The police registered the case on January 29.
According to the FIR, the complainant, Sumit Nirkar, 29, resides in Mira Road East and works as an assistant manager at Mahanagar Gas Limited. Currently, the BMC is working on a new nullah on Marve Road, in front of Swapnalok Building, Malad West.
For this project, the BMC has given a contract to contractor Lokesh Shah and instructed that digging work should only be carried out between 10 am and 6 pm. Additionally, maps of the gas pipeline were to be provided to ensure safety and prevent any untoward incidents.
On January 28, under the supervision of Abid Shaikh, JCB driver Baidul Haq was digging the area. At 6:05 pm, a concerned employee of Mahanagar Gas Company instructed Shaikh and Haq to stop the work. However, both ignored the warning and continued digging until 6:30 pm.
During the excavation, the JCB damaged a gas pipeline, causing a fire to break out. Local residents immediately informed the police and the fire brigade, who managed to bring the fire under control. Additionally, electrical cables were also damaged. After the pipeline rupture, both the supervisor and the JCB driver fled the scene.
As a result, Mahanagar Gas Company filed a complaint with the Malad police. The case has been registered against contractor Lokesh Shah, Supervisor Abid Shaikh, and JCB driver Baidul Shaikh under Sections 125 (acts endangering the safety of others or putting lives at risk), 3(5) (crime committed by multiple people in furtherance of a common intention), and 324(2) (mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
