Hyderabad, March 5 – Three workers died and two were injured after falling from the fifth floor of a building under construction in Hyderabad on Thursday, police said.
The incident occurred in the Al-Hasnat Colony area of Tolichowki when the scaffolding collapsed.
Police said that two workers died on the spot, while another died during treatment.
Two workers, who were injured after falling onto bricks and sticks, were taken to a nearby hospital by locals.
The bodies were taken for autopsy. The victims are believed to be migrant workers from the Srikakulam district in neighboring Andhra Pradesh.
Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident. Preliminary investigation by the police shows that failure to adhere to safety measures during construction work led to the tragedy.
State Labour Minister Vivek Venkataswamy spoke to officials over the phone and directed them to provide the best possible treatment to the injured.
The minister requested a comprehensive report with full details of the incident and the health condition of the workers.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Dr. Dasoju Sravan visited the site and expressed grief over the tragic incident.
He stated that people traveling in an auto and a car on the road at the time of the incident were also injured.
He questioned how permission was granted for a seven-story building on a plot that is less than 300 square yards. He demanded that GHMC officials clarify how such construction approvals were issued.
He also questioned why the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) are failing to take action despite rampant illegal constructions across the city.
Sravan alleged that permissions for illegal constructions are being granted by taking bribes, putting the lives of citizens at risk. He said that in recent times, there have been increasing incidents of fire accidents and building-related mishaps, highlighting the failure of the government to enforce safety norms.
The BRS criticized the government for being busy demolishing the houses of the poor while turning a blind eye to large-scale illegal constructions. He demanded that HYDRAA officials and the District Collector immediately respond to the Tolichowki incident and order a thorough inquiry, taking strict action against those responsible.