Search Operation for Missing Workers Continues in Bengaluru
More than 24 hours after two workers were feared drowned in a 40-foot-deep water-treatment tank at a Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) facility in Varthur, search operations had not yielded any results by Friday evening. The search will continue on Saturday.
Over 75 personnel from the fire and emergency services, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Varthur police station have been deployed at the site. The missing workers have been identified as Akhilan Mohan, 29, from Tamil Nadu, and Akhilesh, 30, from Bihar.
Police have ruled out manual scavenging, describing the incident as an accident during maintenance work. Police have not yet registered an FIR, stating that formal proceedings will begin after the rescue operation concludes. Plant manager Sateesh Kumar did not respond to queries from TOI.
According to sources, the incident occurred around 5:30 PM on Thursday at the BWSSB facility in Balagere. A three-member team consisting of Akhilan, Akhilesh, and Brijesh approached the large tank to examine a reported fault. Brijesh left shortly afterwards. Akhilan sought help from a colleague, Karthik, for a closer examination of the tank. Akhilan and Karthik stepped closer to the structure, lost balance, and fell into the tank. Akhilesh, who was nearby, rushed to the site along with other workers. They pulled Karthik out, but Akhilan was deep in the tank by then. To save him, Akhilesh entered the tank but also lost balance.
Officials said Akhilan and Akhilesh were likely carried away by strong currents inside the tank, which currently has water gushing through it because of ongoing operations. The rescue effort has been slowed down by poor visibility, strong currents, and limited access points. Teams are using BWSSB layout maps to identify possible locations where the men may have been swept into.
