A 6 ft by 4 ft concrete parapet segment from the under-construction Metro Line-4 viaduct collapsed onto an autorickshaw and a Skoda car on LBS Road near the Johnson & Johnson Company in Mulund (West), Mumbai, at around 12.20 pm on Saturday, killing one person and injuring three others. The Mumbai Fire Brigade confirmed that the slab had been installed just a day earlier.
The injured were rushed to Upasana Multispeciality Hospital, where Ramdhan Yadav was declared brought dead, while Rajkumar Indrajeet Yadav (45) remains critical in the ICU and Mahendra Pratap Yadav (52) and Deepa Ruhiya (40) are stable. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a detailed probe and announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the deceased’s family, along with assurance that medical expenses of the injured will be covered.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has constituted a high-level inquiry committee, while local leaders including MLA Mihir Kotecha, Mayor Ritu Tawde and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray have demanded accountability and strict action against those responsible.
Concrete Slab Installed A Day Earlier, Say Officials
The tragic incident unfolded on the busy arterial LBS Road stretch in Mulund West, a key route used daily by thousands of commuters travelling between the eastern suburbs and Thane. According to officials from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, a heavy concrete parapet segment measuring approximately 6 feet by 4 feet suddenly detached from the elevated Metro Line-4 structure and crashed onto moving vehicles below. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as debris struck an autorickshaw and a car, shattering windshields and trapping occupants.
Emergency response teams, including fire brigade personnel, local police, metro staff, ward officials and 108 ambulance service responders, rushed to the spot within minutes. The area was cordoned off to facilitate rescue operations and to prevent further risk to commuters. Traffic movement along the southbound stretch of LBS Road was severely affected for some time, leading to congestion and diversions.
Mayor Ritu Tawde, who visited the site, stated that the parapet segment had been installed only a day prior to the collapse. She indicated that the stretch should have been properly barricaded if fresh installation work had been carried out, raising concerns about possible negligence. Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha demanded an immediate inquiry and strict action against both the contractor and concerned officials. “There must be accountability. Such lapses cannot be tolerated,” he said while addressing the media at the site.
The Metro Line-4 project work in this section falls under Package CA-10 and is being executed by contractor M/s Rajv-Milan, with project management consultancy handled by the DB-Hill-LBG consortium. The MMRDA has confirmed that a detailed technical probe is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the collapse, including whether there were flaws in installation, curing, supervision or structural integrity.
Political Reactions And Broader Safety Concerns
The incident has triggered sharp political reactions across party lines. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the incident “deeply unfortunate” and directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. In addition to announcing financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the victim’s family, he assured that the state government would bear the medical expenses of the injured.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray criticised the government over alleged recurring safety lapses at infrastructure construction sites in Mumbai. He questioned whether the contractor involved would face blacklisting if found responsible and called for stronger monitoring mechanisms at major public works projects. “Development cannot come at the cost of citizens’ lives,” he remarked.
The collapse has once again brought infrastructure safety under scrutiny in Mumbai, a city witnessing rapid expansion of metro corridors, flyovers and road projects. Metro Line-4 is a crucial connectivity project intended to ease traffic congestion between Wadala and Kasarvadavali in Thane.
With multiple pillars and elevated sections under construction across densely populated neighbourhoods, ensuring safety compliance is critical not only for workers but also for daily commuters passing beneath these structures.
Authorities have stated that the high-level inquiry committee will examine structural design approvals, contractor compliance, site supervision logs and safety barricading measures. Officials have also indicated that if negligence is established, appropriate disciplinary and legal action will follow.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Infrastructure projects symbolise growth, mobility and opportunity. For a city like Mumbai, expanding metro connectivity is essential to reducing congestion and improving quality of life. Yet, the tragic loss of a life in Mulund is a sobering reminder that development must never compromise safety.
While compensation and probes are necessary steps, true accountability lies in preventive systems routine structural audits, transparent safety inspections, clear demarcation of hazardous zones and strict enforcement of construction protocols. Every commuter who passes beneath an under-construction bridge or viaduct places implicit trust in the system that governs it. That trust must be honoured through vigilance and responsibility.
