A construction worker allegedly died of asphyxiation inside the sump of an under-construction building while two others were rescued by the Fire and Emergency Services in Peenya on Monday.
The deceased, Venugopal Reddy, 45, was a native of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. He was working with Srinivas and Swamy at the construction site near Shivamma hotel in Nelagadaranahalli, police said.
According to police, the incident occurred around 5 p.m. when the trio got down into the newly constructed sump to remove centring sheets, which were needed on the first floor. The centring work on the ground floor was over and the workers wanted to shift the material to the first floor, police added.
Venugopal Reddy got inside the sump followed by Srinivas and Swamy. Due to lack of oxygen, Venugopal Reddy lost consciousness and fainted in the sump. Srinivas and Swamy were feeling giddy, but managed to climb out with help from other workers.
Passers-by informed the police, who called the Fire and Emergency Services personnel and an ambulance. A Fire and Emergency Services team rushed to the spot and got the victim out of the sump. A medical team tried to resuscitate the victim, but in vain, police said.
The Peenya police have booked the owner of the building Shivamurthy and contractor Rangaswamy, charging them with criminal negligence for not providing safety equipment for the construction workers.