Didn't know he was cleaning STP: kin of dead labourers

Sunday began as usual for Manjula, wife of Madegowda, one of three labourers who died cleaning the sewage line at ND Sepal apartment in Somasundarapalya.

Everyone was at home and Manjula was preparing upma for her 14-year-old son Appu, a Class VIII student, and 17-year-old daughter Jamuna, a PU student. At 9 am, Madegowda went with two of his friends. Manjula had no idea where he was going. The homemaker was left in shock when informed two hours later that her husband died of asphyxiation while cleaning the sewage treatment plant (STP).

She was baffled as to why Madegowda had to clean sewage when he actually worked as an electrician at a garment factory. In the past, Manjula had also worked with a garment maker. She suspects someone had forced Madegowda to do the cleaning work and wants that person to be brought to book. Madegowda hails from Singasandra village in Tumakuru district.

Radhamma, wife of Narayanaswamy, who also perished in the tragic incident, said he was doing some maintenance work at the apartment, besides being an electrician there. Like Manjula, she claimed no knowledge that Narayanaswamy had taken a contract to clean the STP.

She said Narayanaswamy, who usually stays home on Sundays, left at 7.30 am without eating breakfast.

When the police informed Radhamma of his death hours later, she did not believe it and immediately rushed to the hospital. Hailing from Kolar, the family had been residing at Kaikondanahalli for the past two years. Their six-year-old son, Dharshan, was playing even as his father's body was cooling in the mortuary at St John's Hospital.

Vijay, son of Srinivas, was left shaken when informed of his father's death. He also professed ignorance over the nature of his father's assignment on Sunday morning. Srinivas worked as a painter, while his wife Lakshmi is a housekeeper at a private company.

Having recently got a job as an office boy, Vijay, who was attached to his father, had asked Srinivas not to work anymore. But Srinivas was too eager to build a house for his son and was willing to take all odd jobs for additional money, his friend Nagesh said.