“We are deeply aggrieved by the death of our delivery partner Salil Tripathi in an unfortunate road incident. We are extending all possible support to help the family get through this,” Goyal wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
Tripathi died on Saturday night after he was hit by a speeding SUV—allegedly a police vehicle—while waiting to pick up an order. He is survived by his wife Sucheta Tripathi and a 10-year-old son.
We are deeply aggrieved by the death of our delivery partner Salil Tripathi in an unfortunate road incident. We are… https://t.co/6OySId1sVH
— Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) 1642061598000
Goyal said that the company was by the family’s side at the hospital since the night of the accident and had helped with the funeral and other ongoing expenses. In addition, an insurance grant of Rs 10 lakh was provided to the family and the company would provide assistance to support her son in the future, he said.
Zomato’s employees had collectively contributed Rs 12 lakh to the family, Goyal wrote. “We are so grateful for all the overwhelming concern and kindness shared towards’s Salil’s family. Needless to say, we continue to be there for the bereaved family to ensure they have the financial and emotional support required in difficult times.”
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Before delivering food, Tripathi was a restaurant manager and had also worked at hotels, according to a Ketto fundraising page started by his wife, who also joined Twitter to seek justice for her husband. As of Thursday afternoon, the family had raised Rs 7,75,062 from close to 500 donors on Ketto.
My husband Salil tripathi lost his life as delhi policemen hit him by car in drunken state on 8/1/22.Need justice f… https://t.co/NyA8uXK4mu
— Sucheta Tripathi (@tsucheta01) 1641977412000
A hotel management graduate, Tripathi lost his job after the pandemic struck in 2020 and began working with Zomato to pay his son’s school fees, read a note on a page.
“He earned Rs 40,000-50,000 per month at the restaurant but only earned Rs 8,000-10,000 a month depending on the number of orders and the workload while working as a delivery executive. Despite working 7-8 hours every day to support his family, he never complained, as his loved ones meant the world to him,” it said.
Tripathi’s story highlights, among other things, the meagre pay delivery partners earn even as they risk their lives as part of the essential workforce during lockdowns and curfews. But gig workers have been raising the issue of low pay and lack of benefits since before the pandemic.
