Three Dead, Three Critically Hurt in 75-ft fall at Construction Site

Hyderabad: Three construction workers, including two women, succumbed to injuries they suffered in a 75-foot fall when a scaffolding of an allegedly illegal under-construction six-storey building in Addagutta of KPHB collapsed on Thursday morning. Three others were critically injured and are undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital.

According to the police, the incident took place around 9 am, when two workers were plastering a parapet wall, during which the load fell on the scaffolding causing it to collapse. As a result, six workers fell off the sixth floor.

The deceased were identified as Santhu Bodnayak (23), Soniya Challan (18) and Sonia (19). Santhu and Soniya, who suffered multiple internal injuries, died on the spot while Sonia died at 10.30 am while undergoing treatment at a hospital in KPHB, police sources said.

“We were in the basement; we had worked through the night. I heard screams and a thud, following which I rushed out to found Santhu and five others stuck in the scaffolding,” said Hooli Kirsani, another construction worker and an eyewitness.

Sutra Badnayak, another worker, said: “Kirsani and I alerted the police, cleared the logs and rescued the six of them. Santhu and Soniya were bleeding badly and died on the spot.”

“By then, the police reached. We rushed Santhu Badnayak, Soniya Challan, Sonia, Balram Badnayak (18), Pratik and Budha Badnayak (24) to a nearby private hospital with the help of police in an ambulance,” Badnayak said.

Kirsani said: “The doctors declared Santhu and Soniya dead, while Budha, Pratik, Sonia and Budha Badnayak were admitted. Sonia succumbed to injuries later while others are in a critical condition and were shifted to Gandhi Hospital.”

KHPB inspector D. Venkatesh said that the six workers were being supported by the scaffolding when it suddenly collapsed.

“Two of them who suffered multiple internal injuries after falling from a height of over 75 feet died on the spot while another woman succumbed to injuries at Prathima Hospital in KBHB,” Venkatesh said.

The police said that Santhi is survived by his wife and three daughters aged between three and eight years. A set of 17 workers at the site were farmers from Odisha, who migrated to the city in search of work after suffering losses in agriculture, they said.

“They came from Badlapada village of Kairapur mandal in Malkangiri district of Odisha two months ago and were living in a rented house in Pragathi Nagar of Bachupally,” Surya, another construction worker, said.

Inspector Venkatesh said: “We have shifted the victim's bodies to Gandhi Hospital for post-mortem examinations and are making efforts to identify the building owner.”

A case of death due to negligence under Section 304 (a) of the IPC was registered against the building owner, the police said.

Sources said that the multi-storeyed building was being constructed illegally, in violation of GHMC norms and the builder wanted the work completed by the month-end.

The police intimated GHMC about the incident, following which a team of officials visited the scene and is likely to initiate action against the builder.