Zomato rider’s near-miss in open drain during delivery sparks safety row in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A Zomato delivery worker, Syed Farhan, narrowly escaped a fatal accident on Saturday night after falling into an open drain during heavy rains at TKR Kaman, Shantinagar.

The incident occurred around 9.30 pm while he was on an active food delivery. His bike and mobile phone were swept away in the floodwaters. However, with the help of bystanders, Syed managed to save his bike.

Bike and phone swept away

Eyewitnesses said Farhan was riding through knee-deep water when his motorcycle’s front wheel got stuck near the drain. He fell into the gushing water, losing his phone and sustaining damage to his bike, which was carried a few metres away by the current.

Locals rush to rescue

A video shared widely on social media shows bystanders stepping in to help the trapped worker. One man extended a pipe to Farhan, asking him to tie it to the vehicle so both could be pulled to safety.

Union holds Zomato responsible

Speaking to NewsMeter, Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) Founder President Shaik Salauddin condemned the incident, calling it a direct result of platforms prioritising profits over worker safety.

“This is not just an accident; it’s a consequence of neglect. Zomato must replace Farhan’s phone, repair his bike, and compensate for lost earnings. God saved his life yesterday, but tomorrow could be too late for another worker,” he said.

Appeal to government and civic body

Salauddin also raised the issue before Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Minister for Transport Ponnam Prabhakar, Minister for Labour Vivek Venkat Swamy, and Zomato Founder Deepinder Goyal on social media, urging them to take urgent measures for gig workers’ safety.

He also appealed to GHMC to act against delivery companies that send riders out during extreme weather, despite existing advisories warning against it.

Demands to aggregator platforms

The union urged Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, and other platforms to suspend operations during severe weather, offer fair rain and surge bonuses, and provide real-time hazard alerts to riders. “This is not about a Rs 10 or Rs 15 rain bonus, it’s about whether a worker returns home alive,” Salauddin stressed.

City life hit by heavy showers

Saturday’s rains inundated several parts of Hyderabad, causing traffic snarls, vehicle breakdowns and safety hazards. Open drains and poor stormwater infrastructure remain pressing concerns as the monsoon intensifies.