Rescue teams recovered the body of Akilan, 29, a mechanical supervisor, from a sewage treatment plant in Balagere, Bengaluru East, early Saturday around 3am, after nearly two days of search operations. The body was shifted to the mortuary for autopsy. The search continues for Akhilesh, 30, a helper who also fell into the same tank on Thursday evening.
Wife waits at plant entrance
Madhu (name changed), Akhilesh's wife, rushed from Bihar after learning about the accident. For the past two days, she has barely moved from the entrance of the sewage treatment plant (STP) in Balagere, hoping the ongoing operation will bring her husband home. Akhilesh, a native of Bihar, is the father of four children.
The accident occurred around 6pm Thursday at the facility operated by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). According to the site manager, Akilan had been working at the plant for the past four years, while Akhilesh joined nearly three years ago as a helper.
How the accident happened
The site manager of Balagere STP stated that around 30 people, including security personnel, work at the plant. Akilan and Akhilesh were part of the general shift of 9am to 6pm. “Towards the end of their shift, they went to check the tank gate, and it appears they slipped from the ladder. One person seems to have tried rescuing the other, and both fell in. We always insist on safety measures inside the plant, including safety jackets and other protective equipment,” the site manager said.
Challenging rescue operation
The rescue effort has proven particularly challenging because of the complex network of pipelines connected to the treatment plant. Officials said the pipelines contain large amounts of silt, sludge, plastic waste, and other debris. Heavy machinery such as cranes and excavators cannot be directly deployed inside the narrow pipeline network, forcing teams to make multiple openings and cuts at various points to insert equipment and manually inspect them.
More than 48 hours after the accident, the rescue operation continued Saturday. While Akilan’s family prepared for a final goodbye, Akhilesh’s family waited anxiously for the chance to bring their loved one home. Treated sewage water from the plant is supplied to Kolar for minor irrigation purposes.
