Four detained for labourer’s death released

The Rajarajeshwari Nagar police on Thursday detained three engineers and a contractor in connection with the death of a 26-year-old labourer.

The labourer was buried alive, as two others were rescued after mud caved in on them, while laying sanitary pipes for the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Wednesday.

Police had taken custody of BWSSB assistant executive engineers, Sneha and Navneeth Kumar, assistant engineer, Dileep and a contractor, Naveen Kumar of KBR constructions for questioning.

Madivalappa Gowda alias Muthu from Jevargi taluk died on the spot and his co-worker, Sharana Gowda (35) escaped with minor injuries in Shivanna Layout at Rajarajeshwari Nagar on Wednesday afternoon.
A senior police officer said that, since the police had taken up a case under death due to negligence against the BWSSB engineers in-charge and a contractor, they summoned them on Thursday. The engineers and the contractor were questioned on why safety measures were not taken while laying the sanitary pipeline.

According to Ravi D Channannavar, DCP (West), the police are conducting a technical analysis. All four who were detained for questioning were later freed, he added. “We issued notices to BWSSB to give complete details on the project and a notice was issued to the concerned BWSSB safety officer. After recording statements from all concerned officials, action would be initiated on technical grounds, he said.

Prabhu, a relative of the deceased Madivalappa, in his complaint alleged that neither the BWSSB nor the contractor had taken any safety precaution for workers at the site, and even had not provided any safety kit. “The mud was very loose and it collapsed while the workers were underground. We migrate to cities to improve our lives but end up dying. If officials and contractors would have taken safety measures, the mishap would not have happened,” said Prabhu in his complaint. 

KBR constructions was awarded the contract to lay sanitary pipelines by the BWSSB.