JOIN USPrabhat Singh, (35), a native of Bihar, was laying the pipeline unsupervised by any official or contractor concerned, when heaps of wet sand fell on him, smothering him to death.
Satinder Singh (40) was injured in the incident which occurred at 3.10 pm. He has been admitted to Fortis Hospital.
Workers at the spot said Prabhat and Satinder were working in the dug-up area and 10 others were helping them. “Three men were laying the pipeline and 10 of us were outside the pit. Suddenly, we heard screams and saw Prabhat buried up to his waist,” said Arjun Singh, a co-worker.
According to BWSSB executive engineer, Shivaraj, the workers were quite experienced and the incident was an accident. “The labourers were almost done with their work and were to come out of the dug-up area when the soil started collapsing. One worker (Sathyendra) was rescued with mild bruises and the other (Prabhat) died of injuries,” he said.
BWSSB officials said sufficient precautionary measures were taken during such works. A compensation of Rs 7 lakh to 10 lakh will be paid to the family of Prabhat through the Labour department.
A pipeline was being laid at the spot as part of the Cauvery IV stage phase II work.
Prabhat Singh hailed from Shrumjal in Patna district of Bihar and is survived by wife and three children.
The Hulimavu police have registered a case against contractor Jeetendra who is at large.