720 killed, 2,408 injured in Mumbai emergencies since 2020, RTI reply shows

Civic safety in India's financial capital has come under scrutiny again. In the past six and a half years, from 2020 to September 2026, 720 people lost their lives and 2,408 were injured in various emergencies in Mumbai.

The figures emerged from information sought by RTI activist Shakil Ahmed Shaikh. Sunil Jadhav, public information officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's disaster management department, provided the official information under the Right to Information Act. It shows that fires, building collapses, cracks and falling debris, open manholes and drownings posed a major threat to lives in the city over these years.

According to the information provided by the corporation, the largest number of deaths was caused by the collapse of houses, walls and parts of buildings. Such incidents killed 179 people and injured 864. Fires and short circuits killed 168 people, who were burnt to death, and seriously injured 1,048.

The most worrying of the figures released are deaths linked to water and manholes. A total of 328 people died after falling into the sea, drains, rivers, wells, creeks and manholes. They include 237 men and 91 women.

Questions are now being raised over whether the civic administration goes beyond conducting an inquest panchnama and announcing financial aid after an accident, and takes concrete preventive steps. Against this background, Shaikh has written to the municipal commissioner and the chief fire officer demanding immediate measures.

The demand for an audit of the city's dangerous buildings, grilles on open manholes and a stronger civic safety system is now gathering strength.