3 officials held for manhole deaths; may get life term

It is to be recalled that three persons, including an auto driver who came to the rescue of the other two labourers, suffocated in the manhole in Kozhikode on Thursday.

The mishap occurred at Palayam road while clearing the blockage in the underground drainage around 11 am.

Two labourers from Andhra Pradesh, Bhaskar Rao, 44, from West Godavari and Narasimhan, 44, from Bhimavaram, East Godavari and the auto driver Noushad, 32, died.

Slapped with IPC 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), all three officials were produced at the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, here.

The accused can be convicted to life imprisonment. Kasaba CI B. Sunilkumar told DC that the trio were arrested as they were directly involved in the administration and if other authorities were found guilty of the failure to ensure protection and safety to the laborers would also be arrested.

Though the drainage cleaning work of the company were given as sub contract, the company representatives themselves executed the works, Mr Sunilkumar said.

The officials failed to maintain the guidelines which insist that the labourers should not enter into the manhole soon after the lid is opened.

Only assistant engineer Raghunath Reddy was present near the labourers when the mishap occurred. The safety officer who was supposed to be present at the spot was absent.

The tragedy occurred as the laborers entered the manhole as soon as the lid was removed, circle inspector Sunilkumar pointed out.