New Delhi, May 27 (HS): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of the death of three workers during the cleaning of a sewage tank without any safety measures at a private industrial unit in the Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu. The Commission has also issued a notice to the senior officials there for negligence. One worker injured in the incident that occurred on May 19 is in serious condition.

The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu and the Director General of Police, seeking a detailed report on the matter within four weeks. According to reports, the workers were employed at a dyeing mill in the Karai Pudhur area of Tiruppur and were instructed to clean the sewage tank of the factory. The NHRC states that it is in favor of imposing a complete ban on hazardous cleaning activities without adequate and proper safety measures and necessary equipment. Additionally, suitable use of work-compatible and technology-based robotic machines should be employed.

According to reports, shortly after descending into the tank, all four began to suffocate and lost consciousness. Colleagues pulled them out and took them to a private hospital, but three of them could not be saved. The deceased were from Scheduled Castes.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar