Hyderabad: Blaming the contractor for the mishap, GHMC authorities said that though strict instructions were given to the contractor to take precautions, he had failed to follow them. Sources added that he would be blacklisted. Action will also be initiated against the engineers responsible. GHMC sources said that in connection with the the Metropolis World Congress, commissioner Somesh Kumar had given instructions to all zones to repair sewage pipelines, pot holes and street lamps.
A contract for the repair work in the area where the mishap occurred was given to Mr Raj Kumar, a contractor. The manholes had to be cleaned, cemented and watered which would take at least 15 days and the officials had instructed the contractor to take safety measures.
“Our engineers had warned him to put up barricades but he was negligent. Only a couple of boulders and some mud was dumped around the open manhole,” said Dr N. Yadagiri Rao, deputy commissioner, Central Zone (Circle 9).
“Though our engineers both (DE and AEE) had written a letter warning the contractor to taken precautions they failed to be on the field. Hence action will be initiated against them too,” said Mr Yadagiri.
Meanwhile, locals alleged that there were five such uncovered manholes in the lane and surrounding areas and most of the street lamps were non-operational. They said that at the mishap site too there was no proper lighting.
The manholes were covered soon after the incident.
"Unfortunately there was no street lamp at the mishap site. But just about 15 feet from the site, there was one. It was functional," said a GHMC official.
Kin says GHMC is responsible
The victim, Hemanth Kumar Sahay’s family and locals say that it was sheer negligence on the part of the authorities that led to his death.
Sahay’s daughter-in-law Preethi said, “What happened was due to the negligence of the Hyderabad municipal authorities. Their negligence led to the loss of an important member of our family. If they had been responsible, this would not have happened.”
“For long there have been no proper streetlights and the issue of open manholes was unaddressed even after repeated complaints by locals. It is a problem for us to walk and park vehicles due to manholes and bad lighting,” said Mr Vishal Gupta, a techie working in Microsoft and a neighbour of the victim Hemanth Kumar Sahay
“I am very often scared to take out kids because of the manholes. This issue should be taken seriously. Before we aim at Singapore in development, such minimum facilities should be taken care of,” he added.
There are also allegations that the local MLA didn’t visit the spot nor condole the family even after repeated calls.
