2 workers die of asphyxiation

Duo had entered a pipeline to carry out centring works

Two labourers Vijay (25) and Santosh (28) died when they entered a pipeline to carry out centring works near Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at Uppal on Wednesday morning.

The contractor, Sreenivas Reddy of L&T, had hired four labourers to remove the centring material which was placed in the manholes for fixing it. Mahesh and Munni were also there along with Vijay and Santosh when they entered the threemetre deep chamber to remove the material.

According to passers-by, there were calls for help after they entered the pipeline and two of them were pulled out while the other two had already died. It was only minutes since they entered and they felt highly suffocated inside and screamed for help.

While Mahesh and Munni were pulled out by passers-by the other two Vijay and Santosh, were unconscious in the pipeline. The cause of death is suspected to be asphyxiation. The workers are from Odisha.

According to highly placed sources in HMWS&SB, the centring work was completed oneand-a-half months ago and the contractor should have ensured that the lid of the newly-laid pipeline was not opened without the prior notice to the Water Board.

Sources alleged that the labourers came to steal the centring material and lost their lives.

L&T officials claim that the workers entered into the pipeline without telling them and so L&T was not responsible for the death of the labourers.

Two labourers Vijay, 25, and Santosh, 28, died when they entered a pipeline to carry out centring works near Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at Uppal on Wednesday morning.

Even though there were no harmful gases inside, it has potential to cause death due to the scorching heat outside and the lid was opened after a month.

Sources said that L&T officials claim that the workers entered into the pipeline without telling them and so L&T was not responsible for the death of the labourers. However, the HMWS&SB said that they would conduct an enquiry into the incident. HMWS&SB managing director M. Dana Kishore said, “The Director (technical) Suryanarayana will be the enquiry officer and based on the preliminary enquiry disciplinary action will be initiated on the agency and employees.”

Mr Kishore stated that a compensation of `10 lakh will be given to the bereaved families. He said, “The chamber was constructed recently and the newly laid line is not yet put into operation.”

Assistant Commissioner of police (Malkajgiri) G. Sandeep said, “A case has been filed for negligence against the contractor, L&T and also HMWS&SB for not giving them any protective gear before entering the pipeline. The investigating officer will conduct enquiry and accordingly action will be taken.”

The bodies have been transferred to Gandhi Hospital for post-mortem and the family members are yet to arrive from Odisha.