Duo cleaning drainage in Foreshore Estate asphyxiated

The deceased were identified as Nagaraj (35) and Shahinshah (32) of Srinivasapuram, and the incident happened in the same locality around 5 pm. The duo was asked to clear a block in the drainage preventing the flow from a Housing Board apartment building in the area. When Shahinshah entered the manhole, he was asphyxiated. Nagaraj went to his rescue but suffered the same fate. Though Fire and Rescue Services were alerted about the incident, both of them had died in the drain itself. It took a struggle that lasted about 30 minutes to take out their bodies, sources said. Their bodies were sent to Government Royapettah Hospital. The Foreshore Estate police have registered a case. This is the latest case of death despite manual scavenging being prohibited in the country.