New Delhi, 24 April (H.S.):

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports about the death of two sanitation workers in Nuh district, Haryana, after they were exposed to toxic gases while cleaning a sewer line at Ambedkar Chowk in the Firozpur‑Jhirka area. A third worker was seriously injured in the same incident.

The Commission has issued notices to the Nuh Municipal Commissioner and the District Superintendent of Police, directing them to submit a detailed report on the case within two weeks. It has asked that the report include the status of the investigation, the health condition of the injured worker, and the details of any compensation granted or to be granted to the injured person and the families of the deceased.

The NHRC has expressed concern that, despite the Supreme Court’s clear directions to mechanise sewer cleaning and to provide all workers with safety gear, such tragic and avoidable accidents continue to recur. According to the available account, one of the three labourers descended into the sewer line first and soon lost consciousness due to the poisonous gases. When the other two workers went down to rescue him, they too were overcome by the fumes and collapsed. They were pulled out and taken to hospital, where doctors declared two of them dead.

Media reports state that the workers were deployed by a contractor appointed by the state government’s Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and had been sent to clear the sewer line without any protective equipment or safety arrangements. The NHRC has indicated that it will examine the report carefully and decide on further action, including possible recommendations for ensuring strict implementation of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on the safety of sanitation workers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar