Hyderabad: Worker dies in merchant house

Hyderabad: Tension mounted at the house of gold merchant G. Anil in Banjara Hills after a labourer got electrocuted while cleaning a well in the house. The relatives of A. Ramulu, 45, a native of Achampet, Mahbubnagar. and locals refused to move the body from the spot, alleging that Anil’s negligence caused the death.

They alleged that the house owners did not switch off the power before sending Ramulu to clean the well at the  house at Ambedkarnagar at Road No. 13, Banjara Hills.

“Ramulu had been working there for four days. There are two wells in the house, and the victim had cleaned one. When he moved on to the second well, which had cables passing through for pumping water, he got electrocuted,” said  corporator G. Vijayalakshmi who visited the spot.

Demanding justice for the victim’s family, she said the house owner was negligent and did not take precautions before sending the worker to clean the well.

“The body lay on the ground for hours.  The owner and family were not ready to extend any help to the victim’s family though their negligence caused the death,” she alleged.

While the protesters refused to shift the body, police tried to persuade them and later used force. It was only after the police booked a case against the house owner for negligence that the body was removed. Banjara Hills police officials said that they were investigating the case.