Hyderabad Delivery Rider Killed in Road Accident; Zepto Denies Responsibility

Fatal Hyderabad Road Crash: Delivery Rider Killed as Zepto Issues Clarification on Employment Status

A 25-year-old delivery rider named Abhishek recently died in a tragic road accident in Hyderabad. The crash happened on the busy Tolichowki-Mehdipatnam road when his bike hit a private bus. While early reports linked him to the delivery giant Zepto, the company has denied the claims.

This incident has sparked a heated debate about safety and the hidden risks faced by thousands of gig workers who race against the clock to deliver groceries in less than 10 minutes.

A Fatal Crash and a Corporate Denial

The accident happened on a crowded street, and Abhishek died at the crash scene. A local labor union claimed he was a Zepto delivery partner. They argued that high-pressure delivery targets put his life at risk and demanded financial help for his grieving family.

However, Zepto looked into its records and issued a formal statement. They used facial recognition and database searches to check his identity. The company said Abhishek was never registered on their platform, so they won’t be able to pay their standard Rs. 10 lakh insurance policy. The police are still investigating the case. Meanwhile, the family is left without support while the company and the union disagree.

Why Do These Riders Fall Through the Zepto Insurance Gap?

The conflict over whether Abhishek worked for the platform could be a result of ‘ID sharing.’ Sometimes, a registered rider lets a friend or relative use their app to make extra money. As the app only considers official accounts, the person riding the bike using the borrowed ID cannot be considered an official worker.

As a result, when an accident happens, the Zepto insurance policy does not cover these unregistered drivers. This creates a massive safety gap. Even though the person is delivering goods for the brand, they have no legal protection. 

In early 2026, new rules were discussed to help gig workers. However, these rules often require a person to work for 90 days before they get benefits. This leaves new or unofficial riders in a very dangerous position. Without official status, a family gets nothing but a denial after a tragedy.