There have been many incidents over the past years where citizens have died after falling into open manholes or drains.
Responding to the public outrage over the death of a 10-year-old girl who fell into an open drain on Saturday, 29 April, in Secunderabad’s Kalasiguda, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) suspended the assistant executive engineer who was in charge of the area, as well as another official.
The incident happened when Mounica, a fourth-grade student, went to fetch groceries from a nearby shop.
The body was later retrieved from the drain by the Disaster Response Force (DRF) and sent to Gandhi Hospital for post-mortem.
There have been several such incidents in the city over the past few years, where people have lost their lives after falling into open manholes or drains.
According to the GHMC, the incident occurred due to the negligence of assistant engineer M Thirumalaiah, who was responsible for laying the “VDCC road from 3-3-577 to Government High School at Kalasiguda”.
GHMC Deputy Srilatha Shoban Reddy and Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav visiting the incident scene. (Supplied)
The suspension order added that the roadwork was executed without providing proper barricades, signage, or diversion indicators, resulting in the death of Mounika.
The GHMC also suspended the services of work inspector BM Hari Krishna, pending an investigation.
Lokesh Kumar, GHMC commissioner, instructed executive engineer of Khairatabd R Indira Bai to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and submit a report within 10 days.
Meanwhile, the Mahankali police told South First that they have registered a case under CrPC 174 (police to inquire) and are investigating the matter.
According to an eyewitness, whose video has gone viral on social media, Mounika was with her elder brother when the incident happened.
Confirming the death of Mounika, the Mahankali police said, fell while trying to save her brother and was washed away.
Meanwhile, GHMC Mayor Vijaya Lakshmi Gadwal visited the family of the victim and announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh.
GHMC Mayor Vijayalakshmi Gadwal meeting the victim’s parents. (Supplied)
Hours later, the Telangana government announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh.
Parts of Hyderabad have received heavy rainfall in the past few days and even early morning on Saturday.
Some areas recorded heavy rainfall — up to six cm — causing flooding of roads and water logging in several places. Videos of cars moving through flowing water and bikes parked on roads being washed away have been circulating on social media.
In September 2021, a techie G. Rajinikanth (40) fell into a stormwater drain and was washed away after a downpour in Manikonda.
According to reports, the incident was similar to Mounika’s as there was no barricade at the spot nor a signboard to alert people of the ongoing work. Rajnikanth is survived by his wife and two school-going children
In 2020, a 12-year-old girl who went out on a joyride in her bicycle was caught in sudden rain, and drowned after falling into an open drain. Her body was later fished out of a nearby lake in Neredmet.
In another incident, a pregnant women died after slipping and falling into open drain in Secunderabad.
Since 20 days @HMWSSBOnline water works have dig this and ignoring to repair this and didn’t even keep any barrigate no precautions were taken public life is at risk @MutaGopal @chary_bjym @KTRBRS @KTRoffice
Location at sreeker Tiffin centre Brindavan colony pic.twitter.com/dLT6qJ7oCF— Panneeru Teja (@Panneeruteja1) April 29, 2023
