Culpable homicide charge pressed: Telecom infra provider held for death of 3 workers inside BSNL optical cable duct

“Investigation revealed that this duct was closed for a long period and at least two feet deep water had accumulated inside the duct chamber. As soon as the workers entered the duct, they complained of suffocation and fell unconscious,” said an officer from Nigdi police station.

“Considering the situation at the site, the workers should have been provided safety equipment such as gumboots, masks or breathing apparatus, hand gloves, among other things. Considering the nature of the work, the contractor referred to as BSNL Telecom Infrastructure Provider (TIP) should have hired services of skilled manpower. However, our investigation has revealed that unskilled workers were hired for the job. A case was registered on Wednesday and culpable homicide has been invoked for the offence,” said the officer.

“It is still not completely clear whether the suffocation was caused by the presence of toxic gases or due to overall lack of breathable air in the duct. The primary autopsy report is inconclusive on this. However, the viscera has been preserved and has been sent for chemical analysis. The results are awaited,” said another officer.

“We have arrested the BSNL telecom infrastructure provider identified as Ramesh Shivaji Patil on Wednesday. The FIR also names unidentified BSNL officials as accused. We are in the process of determining which officers were responsible for the project and their roles in the incident,” said a senior police officer.