Kin of 8 scavengers to be compensated today

Rajendranagar: Two of the families of manual scavengers from Rajendranagar, who died more than 5 years ago, will be getting a sigh of relief on Tuesday, as GHMC will be awarding Rs 10 lakh to each of the families of deceased.

In compliance with the court orders regarding compensation for scavengers who got suffocated to death while cleaning manholes, the GHMC extending the financial assistance to the bereaved families of eight labourers, including two from Rajendranagar Circle, on the High Court premises on November 5.

On May 31, 2014, a pal of gloom descended on these two families when they learned that their sole bread winners died, while cleaning a drain at Upperpally at Rajendranagar.

Both the workers suffocated to death inside a drain while cleaning an 18-foot deep drain. Later it was fond that they were suffocated inside the drain due to lack of oxygen and died before they could be rescued.

Later, they were identified as Beemulu (23) and M Narayana (53). It is said that the deceased were private labourers employed by an owner of an apartment at Rajendranagar to clean the sewer as one of the lines was overflowing due to a blocked manhole.

Beemulu was the first who trapped inside and Narayana stepped in to rescue him. However, both of them died of suffocation due to lack of oxygen in the drain. Six others from various parts of city also met the same fate.

According to official records, the eight scavengers died due to suffocation while cleaning the manholes under different GHMC Circles. While two scavengers died in Rajendranagar circle, others were from LB Nagar, Kukatpally, Malkajgiri, Hayathnagar and Chandanagar.

According to sources, the GHMC officials will provide cheques of Rs 75 lakhs to the families of deceased. While four families will get Rs 10 Lakhs each, three families would be provided Rs 9 Lakhs and one family will get Rs 8 lakhs of compensation.