A 25-year-old delivery partner, identified as K. Abhishek, was killed in a road accident in the city late on 7 January while on duty with quick-commerce platform Zepto. Police said Abhishek lost control of his motorcycle on the busy Mehdipatnam-Tolichowki road, his bike skidded and he was tragically run over by a private travel bus, dying at the scene.

A case has been registered and officers are investigating the circumstances. The incident has triggered a strong response from worker unions, who blame hyper-fast “10-minute delivery” targets and unsafe working conditions for increasing the risks delivery partners face on Indian roads.

Accident, Investigation and Official Statements

According to Mehdipatnam police, the accident occurred late on Monday night when Abhishek was riding his two-wheeler towards Tolichowki to deliver a food order.

Officers believe he lost control of the vehicle on the busy stretch, causing the bike to skid and fall. Immediately behind him was a private travel bus, which ran over him, killing him on the spot. His body was taken to Osmania General Hospital, where a post-mortem examination was conducted before it was handed over to his family.

A police spokesperson said that initial investigation suggests Abhishek was in a rush to complete his delivery. “We have registered a case and are currently investigating the matter. We urge all delivery workers to prioritise safety and wear helmets while riding,” the official added. There is no confirmation yet on whether the bus driver has been arrested; efforts are underway to trace and apprehend them.

CCTV footage widely circulated online shows the horror of the moments after Abhishek’s bike skidded, with the bus passing over him seconds later, raising questions about road safety and the risks faced by delivery workers navigating congested urban highways.

Worker Safety Outcry and Demands

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has strongly condemned the incident, laying part of the blame on what it describes as “unrealistic and deadly 10-minute delivery models” promoted by quick-commerce and food delivery platforms. The union’s founder-president, Shaik Salauddin, said in a statement that Abhishek’s death reflects deeper structural issues faced by gig workers and called for urgent reforms.

“10-minute food and grocery deliveries start on time. Rs 100-crore speed projects start on time. But when a worker crashes on the road, insurance and compensation never start on time. Why? Boardroom promises are not the ground reality. Workers are human beings, not algorithms,” Salauddin said, directly challenging company priorities and urging policymakers to act.

The union has demanded statutory coverage under the Workmen’s Compensation Act to ensure all gig workers receive legally backed social security benefits. It has also called for Rs 5 lakh in ex-gratia compensation to Abhishek’s family and the removal of dangerous delivery time mandates, which the union says force riders to compromise safety in order to meet algorithmic targets.

The union’s critique comes amid a wider movement of gig workers in India highlighting low pay, unsafe conditions, and lack of formal benefits including strikes and protests in major cities. For example, on 31 December 2025, TGPWU and allied worker groups led a nationwide log-off protest demanding better pay, regulated working hours and an end to unsafe delivery targets ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Corporate Responses and Industry Practices

Zepto and other platform companies have faced criticism over their labour practices for some time. In an earlier dispute, the TGPWU claimed workers were earning as little as Rs 10–15 per delivery while facing unrealistic delivery deadlines that encourage unsafe riding at high speeds.

Zepto has refuted claims of exploitative conditions. In a letter to the Telangana labour department in mid-2025, the company stated that delivery partners earn Rs 100-120 per hour, that payouts are transparent, and that workers are covered by insurance benefits such as up to Rs 1 lakh in inpatient coverage, access to healthcare consultations and basic amenities at dark store locations. It insisted that there are no punitive policies forcing riders to rush or penalise them for delays.

Critics, however, argue that such provisions are inadequate in addressing the systemic vulnerabilities of gig workers who often bear operational costs like fuel and vehicle maintenance and lack formal employment protections such as provident fund, paid leave, or guaranteed minimum wages.

Gig Economy Risks and Road Safety in India

Abhishek’s death is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of accidents involving delivery workers across Indian cities. Gig workers on motorcycles and scooters routinely navigate busy traffic, often under pressure from time-sensitive app algorithms that prioritise rapid deliveries. According to worker unions and numerous protests over the past year, these conditions not only drive unsafe riding practices but also amplify financial and psychological stress on workers.

In Hyderabad and other urban centres, delivery riders have staged prolonged strikes, boycotted dark stores and appealed to authorities for regulation of the gig economy. These efforts reflect growing impatience with a system that critics argue treats workers as disposable “micro-entrepreneurs” rather than as contributors entitled to basic labour rights and protections.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

Abhishek’s tragic death should prompt deep reflection, not only on the hazards of urban traffic but also on the ethical and human costs of hyper-efficient digital convenience. Gig workers like Abhishek are often young, aspirational individuals supporting families and studies, yet they face undue risk because of systemic indifference from algorithms that reward speed over safety to workplaces that treat social protections as optional. While technology and quick-commerce platforms have transformed urban living, they must also evolve to embed worker safety, dignity and rights at their core.

The state and central governments have a responsibility to ensure that gig workers are not excluded from labour protections that other categories of workers enjoy. Companies must engage in meaningful dialogue with unions, recognise the lived realities of delivery partners, and align their growth strategies with humane practices that do not endanger lives.