Two sanitation workers died while cleaning a municipality drainage in Basavanakote village in Jagalur taluk of Davangere district on Monday, officials said.
According to officials, the deceased have been identified as Sathyappa (45) and Mylappa (42), both natives of Basavanakote village. As the drainage was blocked due to mud, Basavanakote Gram Panchayat development officer Shashidhar Patil had asked four workers to clean it.
While cleaning the drainage the two workers complained of giddiness and they were immediately taken to Arasikere government hospital. Since their condition worsened, they were later shifted to a hospital in Davangere district where they died, officials said.
However, the incident has raised suspicion about the cause of the death. “Five workers were engaged in cleaning drainage. All the others are safe and they are working for three days,” Basavanakote gram panchayat president Manjamma said.
She ruled out the cause of death as toxic air in the drainage. Manjamma said that the drainage is just 2 feet depth and the question of toxic air does not arise, adding that the two workers consumed liquor from a nearby house which may have caused their death.
“The two workers died at the hospital in Davangere. We are investigating the incident,”Belachodupolice station inspector M Somashekar said. “We have received information that the two consumed liquor while working from a nearby house. The doctors are yet to confirm the actual cause of death. Soon after we get the autopsy report, we will initiate action,” he added.
A case has been registered under Crpc Section 174 at the police station on Tuesday.
“The two workers went to a house while working at 3 pm on Monday and asked for butter milk. But the house owner gave them whiskey,” N Shambhulingappa, a villager, said. “After consuming the liquor, within half an hour, both fell ill. The other workers did not consume liquor and were working as usual. If the death was caused by toxic air the others would have died too,” he added.
Meanwhile, the police are investigating the exact cause of death.
