37-year-old worker loses his life after being trapped under a stack of rice sacks, police register accidental death case and begin investigation.

The Death

A 37-year-old labourer died after a stack of rice sacks collapsed on him at the APMC Grain Market in Vashi on Tuesday evening (November 3).

The deceased, identified as Ramraj Lotu, was working at Shri Ram Kalyanji Agro shop in the M/3 section of the grain market. Originally from Gorakhpur district in Uttar Pradesh, he was residing in the Turbhe Stores area. According to reports, the incident occurred when a tall stack of heavy rice sacks suddenly collapsed while he was working inside the shop. He was trapped underneath the sacks. Other workers immediately rushed to the spot, removed the sacks and rescued him.

Ramraj sustained serious injuries and was unconscious when he was taken to P.K.C. Hospital in Vashi. However, doctors declared him dead at 5.36 pm. Following the incident, concerns have been raised over safety measures and the storage of heavy goods in the APMC Grain Market.

The deceased’s brother, Rajkumar Lotu, informed the APMC Police Station about the incident. Police registered an accidental death case and inspected the site. A forensic team also examined the location and conducted a panchnama. Assistant Police Inspector Sunil Mohite is investigating the case.

PIT-NDPS Act and MCOCA invoked against alleged repeat offenders operating in Turbhe, Digha, Nerul and Panvel.

The Women Drug Peddlers

Navi Mumbai Police have intensified their crackdown on drug trafficking by taking strict legal action against four women allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade across different parts of the city.

The action has been initiated under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to prevent repeat offenders from continuing their activities. Among those detained is Naseem Bano also known as Lali Gani Shaikh from Turbhe, against whom five drug-related cases have been registered. She has been detained under the PIT-NDPS Act and sent to Pune Central Jail.

Shantabai Karandekar from Digha, who allegedly operated a drug network in the area for seven to eight years, faces eight cases. Police have invoked MCOCA against her, and she has been sent to Adharwadi Jail. Similarly, Sitabai Ingle from Nerul has been detained under the PIT-NDPS Act and sent to Nashik Jail. Rani Joseph from Panvel has also been placed under preventive detention and sent to Taloja Jail.

The operation was carried out by the Anti-Narcotics Unit under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Nigade, along with officers from Turbhe Police Station. Police officials said the action aims to prevent habitual offenders from returning to illegal activities and strengthen the campaign against drug trafficking in Navi Mumbai.

A 50-year-old autorickshaw driver from Pen accidentally swallowed the toothbrush while brushing his teeth and underwent a challenging 30-minute endoscopic procedure.

The Tooth Brush

In an unusual medical emergency, doctors at Medicover Hospitals in Kharghar successfully removed a 19-cm toothbrush from the stomach of a 50-year-old man who accidentally swallowed it while brushing his teeth. The procedure was completed without surgery.

The patient, Rajendra Malusare, an autorickshaw driver from Pen with a physical disability, experienced mild abdominal pain after swallowing the toothbrush. He initially visited a local physician, who advised an X-ray. However, the object was not detected, following which he was referred to Medicover Hospitals for further evaluation.

An endoscopy revealed that the entire toothbrush was lodged horizontally inside his stomach. Doctors decided to remove it through an endoscopic procedure to prevent complications such as intestinal blockage or perforation. Dr Raosaheb Rathod, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Medicover Hospitals, led the medical team. He explained that the rigid toothbrush became stuck at the junction between the stomach and food pipe and later near the upper oesophageal sphincter. After several careful manoeuvre and changes in the patient’s position, doctors successfully extracted it through the mouth.

A follow-up endoscopy confirmed that there was no injury to the food pipe or its sphincters. The patient’s condition improved, and he was discharged in a stable condition within a few hours. Doctors advised people not to induce vomiting or push swallowed foreign objects down with food, warning that such attempts could cause serious injuries. They stressed the importance of seeking immediate medical attention in such emergencies.