YSRCP demands judicial inquiry into death of GVMC engineer during review meet

The sudden death of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Superintending Engineer K. Govinda Rao during an official review meeting has triggered serious political and administrative controversy in Visakhapatnam. The senior engineer collapsed while attending a meeting convened to review issues related to garbage transfer stations and municipal vehicle operations, leading to widespread concern over the circumstances surrounding his demise. The incident has not only shocked the civic administration but also sparked intense political debate across Andhra Pradesh.

Opposition YSR Congress Party leaders have alleged that Govinda Rao was subjected to public humiliation during the meeting, claiming that such treatment caused severe mental stress , ultimately leading to a fatal cardiac episode . The party’s Employees and Pensioners Wing stated that the engineer was not allowed to present his explanation and was spoken to in a manner unbecoming of a senior officer. Holding the government responsible, the opposition demanded an immediate judicial inquiry , arguing that only an independent probe can establish whether political pressure contributed to the officer’s death.

Responding to the allegations, Swachh Andhra Corporation Chairman Pattabhiram Kommareddy strongly denied any misconduct and described the controversy as an unfortunate politicisation of a medical emergency. He clarified that the meeting was convened purely to address public complaints and insisted that no argument or confrontation took place. According to him, Govinda Rao had a history of diabetes and hypertension and suffered a sudden medical emergency during the meeting. He stated that doctors at a nearby primary health centre provided immediate treatment before the officer was shifted to a hospital.

Officials said that although initial medical care was administered, the engineer reportedly suffered a second stroke while being moved to another hospital against medical advice, which proved fatal. Several senior municipal officials were present at the meeting and are said to be eyewitnesses to the incident, with the ruling party asserting that their testimonies support the claim that there was no harassment or altercation.

Despite these assurances, the incident has led to heightened political tension in Visakhapatnam, with opposition leaders insisting that transparency is essential in cases involving the death of an officer while on duty. They argue that a court-monitored inquiry , along with examination of medical records and witness statements, is necessary to restore public confidence and determine whether the tragedy was purely health-related or influenced by administrative pressure.