Labourers die after being trapped inside manhole at Koti

Two labourers lost their lives after being trapped in a manhole at Koti on Sunday afternoon. The two who were working on a blockage in the sewer pipeline got stuck inside the manhole after one person collapsed and another came down to rescue him. However, both of them fell unconscious and died inside the manhole. The victims, both natives of Mahbubnagar district were identified as Veera Swamy, and Kotaiah.

Officials suspect that the victims died instantly because of the lethal methane gas present inside. HMWS&SB officials clarified that there was no engagement from their side for the labourers to clean the manhole and are investigating as to who had instructed the labourers to get inside the manhole.

Police officials informed that the two victims did not belong to HMWS&SB and suspect that local residents engaged the labourers but officially no complaint regarding any blockage in the manhole had been recorded in the register. HMWS&SB official release stated that their preliminary inquiry didn't reveal as to who engaged the labourers for the job and also with Sunday being May Day, it was not a working day for HMWS&SB.

Locals, on the other hand, alleged that the police reached late to the spot resulting in the victims remaining inside for a long time. But the allegations were denied by the police who have registered a case of suspicious death and sent the bodies for autopsy.