Delhi: Worker gets caught in bottle crusher, dies

Police said machine parts were uncased in the unit and added that the labourers, who were untrained to operate the machinery, were made to work without any protective gear like gloves, boots or face masks.

Hit and dragged by truck, boy dies in hospital

The victim, Madhu Ram, died on the spot. (Representational)

A 21-year-old labourer died after getting caught in a plastic bottle crusher machine operating inside a house in south Delhi’s Asola, police said. The victim, Madhu Ram, died on the spot. Police have arrested the owner of the unit, Manish Kumar Gupta, who they allege was running the unit without proper licences.

“No safety was in place, which is why we arrested him under section 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 304-(A) (causing death by negligence) of the IPC at Maidan Garhi police station. The unit had three machines,” said DCP (South) Vijay Singh.

Police said machine parts were uncased in the unit and added that the labourers, who were untrained to operate the machinery, were made to work without any protective gear like gloves, boots or face masks.

Meanwhile, a former worker alleged that at least three employees left the job after sustaining cuts. Dhruv, who now works in an electric parts unit, said, “I almost severed a finger of my right hand. I do not want to become unemployed as I have a young daughter. There were at least two other workers who almost lost their fingers. They were taken to a local hospital and bandaged,” claimed Dhruv.

It is learnt that Ram had left the job at the unit but returned a month before Holi as he failed to find work back home in UP’s Lakhimpur. Police said at the time, only two workers were employed at the unit, which had been operating for a year. The body was taken to Safdarjung mortuary for post-mortem.

Officers will write to civic agencies for documentation.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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