Electrician dies after falling into sump near airport; family alleges negligence

A 43-year-old electrician died after allegedly slipping and falling into a water sump at a worksite near the Kempegowda International Airport First Circle on Wednesday evening. His family accused the company of gross negligence.

The deceased has been identified as Dhananjaya Deshpande, a native of Kalaburagi district, who had been residing at Kannamangala village in Devanahalli taluk with his wife for the past eight years. He was employed as an electrician with a private firm Sterling & Wilson Pvt. Ltd., and was working on the airport premises.

According to the complaint lodged by his wife, a homemaker, Dhananjaya had reported for B-shift duty on February 4. As part of his daily routine, he used to call his wife between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., but failed to do so that evening. Repeated attempts to contact him revealed that his mobile phone was switched off.

At around 8 p.m., Ravichandran, Maintenance Manager of Sterling & Wilson Pvt. Ltd., reportedly informed the complainant that Dhananjaya, along with his co-worker Manjunath, had gone to check the electrical meter reading at the Booster Pump House near Airport First Circle around 6 p.m. While returning, Dhananjaya allegedly slipped and fell into a sump, resulting in his death.

The complainant has alleged that the company officials were aware that the sump area posed a serious danger, but failed to provide adequate safety measures, did not properly secure or cover the sump, and failed to appoint responsible supervisory staff at the site. She has held the company’s negligence responsible for her husband’s death.

Based on the complaint, the airport police have registered an FIR charging the officials of Sterling & Wilson Pvt. Ltd. under section 106(1) (causing death by any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide) for further investigations.