Manhole death: Body of 45YO sanitation worker Ananthaiah found after six days
The body of a 45-year-old sanitation worker, Ananthaiah, who died due to asphyxiation while cleaning a manhole in the Saheb Nagar area was found after six days on Monday.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 9 Aug 2021 11:56 AM GMT
Hyderabad: The body of a 45-year-old sanitation worker, Ananthaiah, who died due to asphyxiation while cleaning a manhole in the Saheb Nagar area was found after six days on Monday.
Ananthaiah and another worker Shiva (25) both slipped into the manhole and died due to asphyxiation while doing desilting work on Tuesday last week. Shiva first entered the manhole to clean a flood pipeline at around 10 p.m and went missing. Ananthaiah jumped in to rescue Shiva and went missing, too. Shiva's body was found on Wednesday.
It is pertinent to note that engaging or employing a manual scavenger is a punishable offense under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Rehabilitation Act 2013. Also, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation rules don't allow repairs to be taken up in manholes after 6 p.m.
The GHMC has blamed the contractor, B. Yellaiah, for the work being undertaken after 6 p.m. Yellaiah was booked under various sections of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 and the Indian Penal Code.
Shiva's wife Gouri who is eight months pregnant told the media, "Usually, they work during the day. But he went at night for the greed of a mere Rs. 100 more. Instead of Rs. 600, he was promised Rs. 700."
Over 200-300 workers, rescue teams from DRF, three boats, drones, fire services and GHMC teams were pressed into service to trace Ananthaiah's body in the manholes and nearby water bodies.
Earlier, the government had announced a compensation of Rs. 15 lakh to the family of the deceased. The government gave Rs. 10 lakh while the contractor provided the remaining Rs. 5 lakh. The government has also suspended an assistant engineer and a work inspector and terminated one outsourcing working inspector. Meanwhile, the GHMC has transferred two senior officials to Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation and Jagtial municipality.
