Two workers suffocate to death in manhole while cleaning
Shivamogga, August 06: Two daily wage workers died of suffocation while cleaning the newly constructed manhole of an UGD on NT Road in the city on Monday afternoon.
The victims were identified as Anjani (18) and Venkatesh (32) of Bentekatte in Jagalur taluk in Chitradurga district.
The bodies were lifted from the manhole and taken to the McGann Hospital mortuary for postmortem. A case was registered against the contractor at Doddapete police station. The police also took Thippeshi, the person who brought the workers, into their custody. It is said that there are chances of booking the cases against the contractor under various sections of the IPC.
About the incident
The Karnataka Water Supply Board has been working on UGD works in the city for the last many years. Andhra Pradesh-based contractor has got the contract. The work was about to complete in many places and in the place where the workers died, the UGD and drainage were being checked by releasing the water. For this reason, the workers were pressed into cleaning work. Workers were hired from Jagalur taluk. The victims recently came here for the work.
While checking, the water was not flowing freely inside the manhole which is 20-25 ft depth. Due to which, Anjani was deployed to the work. But even after ten minutes, Anjani did not come up. Suspecting something fishy, Venkatesh also climbed down. But when Venkatesh also did not come up, they found that both of them suffocated to death. Suddenly, the police were informed about the incident and the bodies were lifted up.
The manhole was closed for a few months due to which the poisonous gas was filled in it. As the manhole is more than 20 ft depth, the percentage of oxygen was less in the bottom of the manhole. The tragedy happened as the workers were sent down without taking any precautionary measures, it is said.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
