Manhole deaths: 2 BBMP officials arrested

A day after two labourers died of asphyxiation while cleaning a septic tank of the YumLok restaurant at AECS Layout, the HAL police on Wednesday arrested two BBMP health officials and charged them for causing death due to negligence.

The arrested have been identified as senior health inspector Devaraj and deputy health officer Kalpana of the Mahadevapura zone. The two were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.

A senior police officer said that the owner of YumLok had permission to run the business only from the first floor of the building, but later extended the business to the basement.

The BBMP health officials, despite knowing  this, failed to  take any action.

Hotel manager Ayush Gupta and maintenance in-charge of the building Venkatesh were arrested on Tuesday. The police are on the lookout for hotel owner, Avinash Gupta.

City police commissioner T Suneel Kumar said machines should be used to clean manholes or septic tanks as directed by the Supreme Court.  

He said a letter has been sent to the BBMP to conduct a drive against manual scavenging and take action against those violating the apex court order.

During the investigation, Venkatesh confessed that victims Ramu (25) and Ravi (28) were offered Rs 3,500 to clean the septic tank, the police said. The workers were not provided any safety equipment.