Hyderabad Zomato Rider Falls Neck-Deep Into Open Drain Amid Heavy Rains; Sparks Outcry

A Saturday evening delivery run in rain-lashed Hyderabad almost ended in tragedy for Syed Farhan, a Zomato delivery partner, when floodwaters concealed an open roadside drain and swallowed him neck-deep. The sudden plunge left him struggling in swirling water before bystanders rushed to help.

Zomato Rider Falls Neck-Deep In Hyderabad Rains

🚨 Hyderabad | 9 Aug 2025, 9:30 PM Near TKR Kaman, @zomato delivery Worker falls into drainage during heavy rain — bike & phone gone. ₹10 rain bonus = worker’s life, @deepigoyal❓ 💔@TelanganaCMO @revanth_anumula @Ponnam_INC@VivekVenkatswam#TGPWU #ShaikSalauddin #GigWorkers pic.twitter.com/z5lnPAvFGM

— Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (@TGPWU) August 10, 2025

According to Times Now, the guy, Syed Farhan, was on an active order when the incident occurred, losing his phone to the torrent and leaving his motorcycle badly damaged.  The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) has made it clear they see nothing accidental about it.

The Union President, Shaik Salauddin, said that the rider was blessed with his life yesterday, but tomorrow may be too late for another worker. The union is demanding that Zomato accept full liability: replace Farhan’s lost phone, cover repairs for his bike, and pay him for the days of work he will miss. 

Salauddin dismissed token incentives as inadequate in the face of life-threatening conditions. He iterated that a life cannot be compensated with the token money of ₹10 or ₹15, while adding that this case reflects a larger question of a rider returning home safely and alive. 

Also Read: Pune Man Shares Heartwarming Story Of A Zomato Delivery Man Who Once Earned ₹1.25 Lakh/Month

The Case Asks Broader Questions

But the demands extend well beyond this single case. TGPWU has called for delivery platforms to halt operations in unsafe weather and to set fair rain and surge bonuses when riders must work. He also wants these platforms to share real-time weather data so that riders can decide for themselves whether to take orders. They argue that such measures are not privileges but basic safeguards in a profession where the street is the workplace and conditions are uncertain. 

Civic bodies are also being drawn into the dispute. The union has urged the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to penalise companies that push riders into hazardous situations. GHMC advisories warning food aggregators against operating in severe weather have been issued before, but, according to Salauddin, these warnings are routinely ignored, as stated by Times Now. 

Also Read: 85 Of Tamil Nadu’s Namakkal Restaurants Cut Ties With Swiggy And Zomato Over High Commissions

The episode underscores a fault line in India’s gig economy; riders carry the burden of fast deliveries without the certainty of insurance, safety nets, or the power to refuse unsafe assignments without losing income. In a city where the rain can erase entire roads in minutes, it is a gamble that many feel they should not have to take. Zomato is yet to comment on the incident. 

Cover Image Courtesy: tgpwu/X