3 arrested after manhole tragedy

Bengaluru, Mar 14: Three persons from Ramky Infrastructure Ltd. were arrested on Monday in connection with the death of three people while repairing a manhole at Kaggadasapura.

K. Babu Reddy, Assistant General Manager (Projects), Ramky Infrastructure Ltd. and in-charge of their projects in Bengaluru, Vemula Anjaneyulu, a sub-contractor hired by the company, and N.T. Reddy, Manager (Projects), were arrested by the Baiyappanahalli police. The police have booked them under Section 304 of the IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and under sections of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

“The FIR mentions unnamed BWSSB officials. We are probing,” a senior police officer said.

Two labourers and a driver died after they entered the manhole on March 7. Meanwhile, an internal report by BWSSB has blamed the contractor entirely for the mishap. According to the report submitted to BWSSB chairman, the contractor executing the sewerage lines for the areas under the Karnataka Municipal Reforms Project — partially funded by the World Bank — had not followed standard operating procedures. “He had not brought to BWSSB’s notice about repairing a manhole. It was only after the incident that BWSSB was informed,” said an official.