Silchar’s Footpath Trap: Woman Falls Into Open Drain Near DC Office

Walking on a demarcated footpath is a constitutionally recognised fundamental right, but in Silchar’s Office Para, a woman fell into an open drain at around 7pm on Wednesday, September 30, after she could not notice an uncovered stretch of the footpath, just around 100 metres from the Cachar DC office.

The woman, identified as Suparna Das from Rongpur, was walking along the footpath when she suddenly fell through an opening into the drain below. The incident took place close to the Cachar District Commissioner’s office, raising fresh questions about pedestrian safety and basic civic infrastructure in an area that houses several important government offices.

The stretch of Dak Bungalow Road is used by people visiting offices including the Cachar DC office and the office of the Executive Engineer, PWD. The two openings on the drain are reportedly located just around 100 metres from the DC office.

According to the account of those present, there was no signboard or barricade around the openings to warn pedestrians. The area also had no street light, making the opening difficult to notice after dark.

Das said she did not realise that a portion of the footpath was open above the drain.

“I didn’t see that it was open and I suddenly fell. I waved my hand for help and this guy pulled me up,” she said, pointing towards the man who rescued her.

The fall left Das with injuries to her legs, while her clothes and entire body were covered with waste from the drain. Her phone and other belongings also fell into the drain.

The person who rescued her, Bappon Saha of Tarapur, Silchar, said he was travelling on his scooty when he noticed the incident.

“I saw her hand as her entire body was below. I pulled her by her hand and she came out,” Saha said. He added that nobody else was around when he rescued her.

Das said she has a shop nearby and was heading elsewhere when she fell.

The incident has particular significance given its location near the office of the District Administration. It also comes on a day when Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was in Silchar addressing a gathering ahead of the civic polls, which are only days away.

Beyond the immediate accident, the incident raises questions about whether pedestrians can safely use public footpaths when sections over drains are left open without warning signs, barriers or adequate lighting.

The right to walk on demarcated footpaths has been recognised by constitutional courts as part of fundamental rights under Articles 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution. In June 2026, the Supreme Court, in Maniyar Iliyaz v. P. Ayyappan, reportedly held that pedestrians have an enforceable right to safe, demarcated and maintained footpaths. The ruling placed a corresponding duty on authorities to ensure pedestrian infrastructure is accessible and safe.

This constitutional recognition also means that pedestrian safety is not merely a matter of civic convenience. Where authorities fail to maintain footpaths, citizens may seek legal remedies through writ jurisdiction, including under Articles 226 and 32. Judicial rulings have also addressed hazards such as broken pavements, open drains and obstructions. In the Silchar incident, the open drain near a major government office therefore raises broader questions about civic responsibility and pedestrian safety.