Mumbai News: Man Falls To Death In Unsecured Lift Shaft Of Residential Building In Wadala; Police Probe Underway

A 55-year-old man, Prakash Namdev Shinde, residing on the 18th floor of Matoshree Sadan building on Balaram Khedekar Marg in Wadala, tragically died on July 13 after falling into a ground-level pit. The incident occurred when Shinde, who had been sleeping in the building's outer passage due to ill health, went near the lift for a natural call. He lost his balance in the lift's passage, leading to the fatal fall. The Rafi Ahmed Kidwai (RAK) Marg Police have registered a case of accidental death and are investigating further.

According to the police, the fatal fall happened around 3:45 AM on July 13 and was captured by the building's CCTV cameras. Shinde, feeling unwell, had opted to sleep in the corridor outside his flat. When he needed to use the washroom, he found it difficult to reach the toilet and reportedly sat down near the open lift shaft passage to relieve himself when he lost his balance and fell.

Residents discovered him in the pit, injured, around 8:50 AM. Police, with the assistance of the Fire Brigade, extricated him from the pit and rushed him to KEM Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police have sent Shinde's body for post-mortem examination and have commenced their investigation.

Sources indicate that while the building's construction is complete and residents have moved in, the lift installation was still pending. This unfinished and open lift area is believed to be a critical factor that led to Shinde's fatal accident.