The victim, Veeresh alias Eeresh, of Singanala in Koppal district, was among workers hired by a BBMP contractor for drainage widening and cleaning works –– Secondary Storm Water Drain (SWD).
Around 3.30 pm, when more than a dozen workers were busy unloading boulders from a truck, Veeresh was engrossed in picking up pebbles and setting the base.
Too late
A residential compound wall adjoining the drainage retaining wall caved in, burying Veeresh.
By the time co-workers rushed to his rescue, it was too late. Veeresh was badly injured in his chest, and rushed to hospital, was declared brought dead by the doctors.
According to eyewitnesses, negligence on part of the contractor and the chief mason cost Veeresh his life. Before taking up the mud work, the adjoining walls should have been given enough support but in this case, safety measures were absent. Ganesh, the contractor and Mallesh, the mason, have been questioned and the locality police are likely to book a case of causing death by negligence against them.
Police are trying to trace Veeresh’s family. It is learnt that he was married, had children and was hired by the contractor a week back.
The body is kept in Victoria Hospital mortuary.
Remodeling work
Mudalapalya Corporator N Shanthakumari told Deccan Herald: “The contractor under whom Veeresh was working was remodeling a SWD at a cost of Rs 80 lakh.”
