Overview
- Three workers entered a 40-foot sewage pumping wet well at the Bellandur treatment plant during maintenance on Thursday evening and two — identified as Brijesh and Akhilesh — slipped and went missing.
- A third worker was rescued and taken to hospital in stable condition while recovery teams continue to search for the two men who are feared drowned.
- Fire and Emergency Services and National Disaster Response Force teams are leading the search but face toxic gas buildup, poor visibility and strong internal currents that have required flushing and oxygenation before entry.
- The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has set up a three-member inquiry led by Chief Engineer K.N. Rajeev and ordered a factual report to BWSSB chair Dr Manjula by noon on June 20 with possible strict action based on findings.
- The case highlights confined-space risks in sewage maintenance and has drawn criticism from activists alleging unsafe hiring and practices while BWSSB denies the incident was manual scavenging; the outcome could prompt tighter safety and oversight at municipal plants.