A 25-year-old delivery partner working for Zepto lost his life in a road accident in Hyderabad late Monday night, triggering renewed anger from gig worker unions over the risks linked to ultra-fast delivery targets.

The victim, K Abhishek, a resident of Shaikpet and a final-year BBA student, was delivering an order near Mehdipatnam when the incident occurred. Police said he was riding towards Tolichowki on his two-wheeler when he lost control and skidded on the busy road. A private travel bus coming from behind allegedly ran over him, killing him on the spot.

Police investigation underway

Mehdipatnam police have registered a case and are probing the exact circumstances of the crash. A police official said initial findings suggest Abhishek may have been in a hurry to complete the delivery and urged all gig workers to prioritise safety and wear helmets at all times.

Abhishek was reportedly working as a delivery partner to support his family. His body was later handed over to relatives after a post-mortem at Osmania General Hospital.

Gig worker union condemns ‘deadly’ delivery timelines

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) strongly condemned the incident, calling it a direct outcome of “unrealistic and dangerous” 10-minute delivery models.

Shaik Salauddin, Founder-President of TGPWU, criticised quick-commerce platforms for prioritising speed over worker safety. “Ten-minute deliveries always start on time. Big-ticket projects start on time. But when a worker dies, insurance and compensation never start on time. Workers are human beings, not algorithms,” he said.

Demands for compensation and policy change

The union has demanded immediate intervention from the Telangana labour department, seeking:

  • An ex-gratia accident compensation of ₹5 lakh for Abhishek’s family
  • Application of the Workmen’s Compensation Act to gig workers
  • Removal of strict 10-minute delivery targets that, they say, force riders to take life-threatening risks in traffic

As the investigation continues, the tragedy has once again put the spotlight on the safety of gig workers operating under intense time pressure on Indian roads.