Shocking! Two workers asphyxiate in dry manhole

Bangalore, Sep 25: Two casual labourers were asphyxiated after inhaling noxious fumes from a manhole in Hennur on Wednesday.

The tragic incident occurred at Thuba Layout in Saraipalya on Thanisandra Main Road under Hennur police limits. The labourers were found dead inside the 20 ft-deep manhole.

The dead are Sridhar, 22, of Davangere and Pandre, 25, a native of Bellary, who stayed at Geddalahalli in the City. A third person, Chandrashekar, too fell into the manhole attempting to rescue the labourers but he was saved by passers-by.

According to the police, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had awarded a contract to private firm Ecofil to connect the manhole with the storm water drain by laying a pipe. The firm had hired three daily wage labourers to survey the area and gauge the water flow before starting work.

The police said Sridhar, Pandre and Chandrashekar had gone to the work spot at 11:40 am. In order to check the depth of the manhole, Sridhar lifted its lid. Hit by the poisonous fumes, he fell into the manhole. Pandre tried to grab Sridhar as he was collapsing but failed and followed him into the pit.

A third labourer, Chandrashekar, went to the rescue of Pandre and slipped into the pit as well. Some passers-by heard Chandrashekar screaming for help and pulled him out.

He was sent to a nearby hospital. They also alerted the fire personnel and police.An assistant fire service officer said: œAround eight firemen helped fish out the bodies of the two dead labourers after a 20-minute search. The bodies were sent to Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital for autopsy. 

The police have virtually given a clean chit to the private firm based on a preliminary inquiry. The officer said: œWe suspected the labourers were hired to clean the manhole, which is against the law. But on enquiry, the authorities concerned confirmed that the labourers were to lay a connecting pipe. 