MUMBAI: A 42-year-old labourer from the solid-waste management (SWM) department of the BMC G-South ward died after an electric pole fell on him while debris was being removed by an excavator. This incident followed a demolition action on SL Matkar Marg, Prabhadevi, at around 5.30pm on Friday.
A report stated that the excavator arm hit a tree during demolition of several unauthorised structures, causing the tree to fall on the pole, which in turn fell on the deceased.
However, local BMC officials denied that the arm of the excavator had hit the tree, and claimed that the tree base was affected while debris was being removed.
“The incident happened when debris was being removed with the help of an excavator deployed by the BMC. The base of a large tree, which was adjoining the compound wall of a building on the road, may have been affected due to the removal of the debris, resulting in the tree falling on the electric light pole which, in turn, fell on BMC staffer Shankar Gilbile,” said a BMC official.
Gilbile was immediately shifted to KEM Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
