Labourers meet tragic end while cleaning underground sump

Hyderabad: Two daily labourers met their tragic end cleaning an underground sump at an under-construction building in Raidurgam in Hyderabad. The duo identified as Imran (19) and Afroze (22), died of asphyxiation on Monday. The victims, along with another labourer Farooq, were removing wooden poles that were fixed to the sump’s roof for support.

Police said that the land belonged to M Shiva Kumar, a civil contractor by profession. He has started construction of a building at Rajaiah Nagar in Raidurgam village. The underground sump of the building was constructed at around 12 feet depth, and workers had fixed wooden poles under the roof of the sump for support.

As building construction was about to start, Imran, Afroze and Farooq climbed down to remove the poles. While removing the poles, Imran and Afroze collapsed in the sump and Farooq climbed up and called for help.

GHMC’s Disaster Response Force teams rushed to the spot and pulled the two workers out of the sump. After giving first aid, the duo was rushed to a hospital. Imran was declared brought dead, while Afroze succumbed later.

As the building failed to provide any safety measures to workers, police registered a case against the owner under section 304A of IPC (causing death due to negligence) and started a probe.