The family of Ramdhani Yadav, who died after a Metro Line‑4 parapet segment collapsed onto his autorickshaw in Mulund, Mumbai on 14 February 2026, has refused to take his body from the morgue and is demanding ₹2 crore compensation plus a government job for one of his daughters.
The protest, backed by community members, has put pressure on authorities, who have arrested five personnel linked to the construction and imposed ₹6 crore in fines on the contractor and consultant. A high‑level safety inspection and probe has been ordered across the entire Metro 4 corridor amid accusations of negligence. Three others injured in the accident are undergoing treatment, with at least one in critical condition.
Family Rejects Body, Demands Adequate Relief
The collapse occurred on Lal Bahadur Shastri Road (LBS Road) near the Johnson & Johnson factory in Mulund West at around 12.15 pm on Saturday, when a precast parapet segment from the under‑construction Metro Line‑4 viaduct fell onto a passing autorickshaw and a car.
Ramdhani Yadav, the autorickshaw passenger, was killed instantly while three others sustained serious injuries. The parapet measured roughly 6 × 4 feet and was part of ongoing elevated viaduct work along the Wadala–Kasarvadavali corridor.
Yadav’s body has remained unclaimed at Rajawadi Hospital’s morgue as his relatives refused to accept it until authorities provide a written assurance of enhanced compensation and a jobs guarantee for his family. The deceased was the sole earning member of his household, survived by his wife and three daughters aged between approximately 15 and 20 years, according to family members. His elder brother said the family is unable to manage future educational and marital expenses without dependable support.
Earlier, officials connected with the contractor had offered a relief package of around ₹20 lakh-₹15 lakh from the contractor and ₹5 lakh from the government which the family rejected as grossly inadequate. Members of the Yadav community supporting the family set a 5 pm deadline for written governmental assurance and warned of possible road blockades or ‘chakka jams’ if their demands are not met. Police have taken the family to Mulund police station to continue negotiations, with local leaders including Mihir Kotecha (MLA) and former MP Manoj Kotak joining discussions.
Accountability, Arrests and Safety Action
In the wake of the tragedy, authorities have responded with swift enforcement actions. The Mulund police registered an FIR against officials of construction firms under sections including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence, following which five personnel were arrested. These include project and site managers from RAJV‑Milan Infra and the supervisory firm DB‑Hill‑LBG. Additionally, an executive engineer from the Metro project was suspended by state leadership as part of accountability measures.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has imposed financial penalties totalling ₹6 crore-₹5 crore on the subcontractor and ₹1 crore on the consultant signaling serious administrative displeasure with on‑site safety and supervision failures.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have both expressed sorrow over the loss of life, assured a thorough inquiry, and stated that strict action would follow against those found responsible. The state government has also announced ex gratia compensation of ₹5 lakh for the deceased’s family and pledged to cover medical costs for the injured.
In a significant safety directive, the MMRDA has ordered a special intensive safety inspection across the entire Metro Line‑4 corridor (Wadala to Kasarvadavali) to identify potential structural risks, unsafe components, and compliance gaps in construction and design.
The inspection will involve multi‑disciplinary teams examining parapets, edge beams, crash barriers, temporary supports and barricading arrangements, with authority to halt work immediately where hazards are found. Officials cited preliminary indications of contractor negligence and inadequate supervision as possible causal factors in the collapse, though the detailed investigation remains ongoing.
Safety, Public Trust and Urban Growth
Mumbai’s ambitious metro expansion has been hailed as a backbone for future urban mobility, promising reduced travel times and decongested roads. However, this incident has renewed concerns about safety protocols, quality control, and risk mitigation on live construction corridors that run above busy public roads.
Residents and commuters have expressed dismay over the perceived gap between rapid infrastructure growth and on‑site risk management, with several online community discussions pointing to alleged prior worries about construction quality at the site. While such discussions are not official sources, they reflect growing public unease over construction oversight.
Transportation experts and civic commentators argue that adequate community communication, transparent safety audits, and proactive public risk assessments are essential especially where high‑volume traffic flows directly under active construction. For many residents, the fact that the parapet segment was newly installed and yet fell within a short span raises pressing questions about inspection frequency, supervisory responsibility, and accountability mechanisms in large‑scale infrastructure projects.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This tragic loss of life, alongside the trauma borne by the injured and the distress of families seeking justice, underscores a deeper governance challenge: how public works can be executed without compromising human safety, dignity and long‑term welfare.
While enforcement actions such as arrests, fines, and safety inspections are important, they must be accompanied by empathetic, fair compensation that recognises both immediate loss and future hardships. Peaceful negotiation, transparent processes and meaningful engagement with affected communities can strengthen public trust and reinforce the commitment to human‑centred development.
