Hyderabad tragedy: Drain was to be diverted for Hyderabad Metro
kin of M. Satyaveni protested her death by raising anti-GHMC slogans at the Gandhi hospital
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-11-14 04:05 GMT
Hyderabad: The four-foot drain near Oliphant bridge, in which M. Satyaveni drowned following heavy showers on Wednesday, is in alignment of the Metro Rail pillars, and was proposed to be dismantled and shifted. S. Hari Krishna, North Zone commissioner of GHMC, said, “This drain was supposed to be dismantled, diverted and reconstructed, as it is in alignment of the Metro Rail pillars, and a new drain was supposed to come up. Two weeks ago, HMR officials and GHMC engineering wing officials had inspected the area.”
However, Hyderabad Metro Rail managing director N.V.S Reddy said, “The storm water drains at the Oliphant bridge are in alignment with the Metro rail pillars. But there has been no activity on them as the HMR needs permission from the ‘owning agency’, which is the GHMC. These drains have to be shifted to pave way for the pillars.”
According, to the enquiry report conducted by the engineering wing of GHMC’s North Zone, there was a heavy downpour between 7.30 pm and 8pm on Wednesday. Water was gushing onto the road near Chikalguda rotary and Oliphant bridge. Satyaveni was crossing the flooded road with her family members. She climbed on top of the drain, and accidentally slipped and fell into the opening.
“The location where the incident took place is neither on the pathway (footpath), nor on the driveway (road). Also it is at a higher level. There was no necessity to go on top of the drain. There was no power cut at that time, and there was clear lighting and proper visibility. The reason why she got on top of the drain is not known,” stated an official report from the GHMC North Zone commissioner. The Corporation on Thursday announced an ex gratia of '1 lakh to the family of the deceased.
Satyaveni’s kin protest
The kin of M. Satyaveni protested her death by raising anti-GHMC slogans at the Gandhi hospital. According to the victim’s relatives, Satyaveni was pregnant.The victim’s relatives, however, relented after the authorities promised to look into the matter and do the needful.On Thursday morning, the victim’s family reached the mortuary where her body was kept.
They demanded an ex-gratia and explanation from the authorities over their alleged negligence. The police, however, brought the situation under control by pacifying the bereaved family.Satyaveni’s husband M. Prem Raj, who works at a spinning mill, said that his wife’s death was due to the negligence of the municipal authorities. “We demand justice and request the officials to take precautionary measures to prevent such incidents in future,” he said.
Signboards may have helped
Hyderabad Mayor Majid Hussain, while announcing an ex gratia of Rs1 lakh, said, “No one invites death. Certain precautions must be taken. Recently, Rs 50 lakh was sanctioned for the shifting of this nala, as it lies in alignment of the Metro Rail. Danger signs or other precaution boards would have saved the woman. Barricades at such places are needed. This particular drain was inspected by the HHMR and GHMC, and was to be dismantled.”
O.M. Debra of the Forum For Better Hyderabad said, “Three years ago, a woman got off her husband’s motorcycle and fell straight into an open manhole. A case was filed with the SHRC. Notices were issued to the municipal corporation on precautionary measures. As usual, instructions went unheeded.”