On the evening of August 9, 2025, around 9:30 p.m., Hyderabad was lashed by heavy rain. Near TKR Kaman, Zomato rider Syed Farhan, lost control of his bike and plunged into an open, flooded drain while on an active delivery. The strong currents swept away his bike and mobile phone. Miraculously, Farhan emerged from the incident without major injuries.
A widely circulated video shows locals rushing to help—first pulling Farhan’s bike out of the drain, then throwing him a rope to climb to safety. The heart-stopping footage underscores the danger gig workers face in extreme weather.
The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) responded sharply, holding delivery platforms responsible. TGPWU founder Shaik Salauddin condemned the incident as a predictable outcome of profit-driven policies that sideline rider safety. He warned: “God blessed Farhan with his life… tomorrow may be too late for another worker.”
The union demanded that Zomato:
- Replace Farhan’s lost phone,
- Repair his bike,
- Compensate him for his lost income.
Salauddin also criticized the ₹10–₹15 rain bonus offered to workers as woefully insufficient and called it a matter of basic survival—not a token incentive.
Union Calls for Safety Measures
The TGPWU also called on the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to take meaningful action. Though GHMC has issued advisories warning aggregators against operating in extreme weather, unions say these are often ignored. They urged platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, and others to:
- Halt operations in hazardous weather.
- Offer fair rain and surge bonuses.
- Provide real-time weather and hazard alerts to riders.
Recurring Issue in Hyderabad
This is not the first time such an incident has happened in the city. In the past few years, multiple accidents have been reported involving riders, pedestrians, and motorists falling into open drains during monsoon season. Activists claim that despite repeated complaints, most dangerous spots remain poorly barricaded or are left open altogether.
No Response from Zomato Yet
As of now, Zomato has not issued a statement regarding the incident, leaving gig workers and unions waiting for action. The incident has once again sparked debate over whether corporate platforms and civic bodies are doing enough to protect those who keep the city moving—even in extreme weather.
