Pune: Contractor Arrested, BSNL Officials Booked After Three Workers Die Of Suffocation In Duct
Pune: Contractor Arrested, BSNL Officials Booked After Three Workers Die Of Suffocation In Duct
Pune, August 22, 2025: In a tragic incident, three labourers lost their lives due to suspected suffocation while working inside an underground optic fibre duct belonging to BSNL at Nigdi Pradhikaran on August 15.
The Nigdi police arrested Ramesh Shivaji Patil (46), a telecom infrastructure contractor, for allegedly deploying unskilled labourers without protective gear. BSNL officials have also been booked for negligence in connection with the incident.
The mishap occurred around 3 PM near Nirmal Villa, Sector 27/A. The deceased were identified as Lakhan Asruba Dhavare (35), Dattatray Vijaykumar Honale (35) – both from Chinchwad – and Sahebrao Sambhaji Girshete (35) of Bijlinagar. Another worker, Babasaheb Ambadas Wagh (52), who was outside the chamber, raised an alarm after noticing the collapse of his co-workers.
According to the FIR, the duct had been sealed for several days but was reopened without necessary safety checks. Toxic gases are believed to have accumulated inside. When Girshete collapsed upon entering, Dhavare and Honale rushed in to rescue him but also lost consciousness. All three were pulled out and rushed to Lokmanya Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.
The case, initially registered as accidental death, has been converted to culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), corresponding to IPC Section 304(II).
Police Inspector (Crime) Bhojraj Misal confirmed that further legal action would be taken against all responsible parties, including BSNL officials, for failing to ensure basic safety protocols.
