The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Three persons asphyxiated

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Saturday, Nov 15, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Three persons asphyxiated

Staff Reporter

Two were contract labourers engaged to clean the manhole

The incident occurred at Yelahanka New Town
The third victim was an autorickshaw driver

BANGALORE: Two contract labourers with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and an autorickshaw driver were asphyxiated in a 25-ft manhole in Yelahanka New Town on Friday.

The workers were cleaning the manhole while the autorickshaw driver died while trying to save them.

The tragedy occurred at the Dairy Circle, near Telecom Exchange quarters.

The workers were identified as Ambarish (40) and Narasimha (43), residents of Laggere, and the autorickshaw driver as Srinivas alias Seena (35), a resident of Veerasagara on Hesaraghatta Main Road.

The Yelahanka New Town police blamed negligence on the part of the BWSSB officials.

Ambarish and Narasimha were hired by Gangadhar, a labour contractor. Around 2.30 p.m., Ambarish and Narasimha received instructions from senior officials of BWSSB (Yelahanka New Town) to clean the manhole.

Around 3.20 p.m., Narasimha climbed down about 10 ft into the manhole only to fall all the way down because the ladder was rusted.

Ambarish rushed to his help and Seena joined him. Both climbed down the manhole to save Narasimha.

However, the ladder, under their weight, collapsed, the police said.

All the three died inhaling poisonous gases as they failed to wait for the gases to escape before entering the manhole.

No equipment

Accusing the BWSSB of negligence, a senior police official said the workers were not provided any protective equipment and the police are considering booking a case of negligence against the utility. Gangadhar is absconding.

Katta Subramanya Naidu, Minister for Information and also district in-charge, inspected the spot and pulled up the BWSSB officials.

“Compensation of Rs. 1 lakh each will be given to the family members of the victims,” he said.

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