Rajasthan: 3 sanitation workers die while cleaning sewage line

Three workers were taken out with the help of a crane. The workers were taken to Dhanuka hospital where all three – Mahendra (38), Sajjan (30) and Mukesh (35) – were declared dead. The workers were residents of Valmiki Basti in Ward 48.

Family members and relatives of the victims staged a sit-in protest demanding compensation of one crore rupees and a government job to the kin of the victims. MLA Hakeem Ali reached the spot and joined the protests. Officials have agreed to give compensation as per the government guidelines.

On Wednesday, the district administration announced that the L&T Company, which has hired the workers, will give Rs 30 lakh to each of the families of the three deceased, Rs 1 lakh each for cremation and half the salary as pension to the nominee of the deceased.

Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of the matter. Justice G R Moolchandani, Chairman of the commission, directed the Secretary to Government, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Government of Rajasthan, and the District Magistrate, Sikar, to investigate the matter and send reports to the commission.

Earlier, SDM of Fatehpur Damyanti Rathore claimed that workers did not enter the chamber. “They did not enter the chamber, but fainted due to the presence of poisonous gas. This was an unfortunate incident and the department is conducting a probe into the matter. Compensation will be given to the families as per the government guidelines,” Rathore said.

Asked if the sanitation workers will be provided with necessary equipment, the SDM said that the government is planning to give bodysuits and gas masks to the workers soon.

According to the guidelines of the Rajasthan government, sewerage workers are not allowed to enter the chamber of sewage lines. Even the Supreme Court has banned the practice of manual scavenging.