In a gut-wrenching incident in Rohini Sector 32, a 32-year-old daily wage laborer from Bihar’s Samastipur, Birju Kumar Rai, lost his life after falling into an uncovered manhole. The tragedy, which occurred around 7:30 PM on Monday, was marked by a shocking 19-hour delay in reporting. Birju’s friend, Budhan Das, was so intoxicated that he didn’t realize Birju had vanished into the 14-foot-deep sewer until the following afternoon.

It was only at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, when Budhan regained consciousness, that the alarm was raised. Despite the information reaching the police, eyewitnesses alleged a sluggish response from the authorities. The rescue intensified only after repeated calls to emergency services, and Birju’s body was finally retrieved at 9 PM on Tuesday. A father of three, Birju was the sole breadwinner for his family. While a case of death by negligence has been registered, the incident has sparked public outrage against the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for leaving the manhole open on a deserted stretch.