Fatal Accident in Ashok Vihar
A tragic incident in northwest Delhi’s Ashok Vihar Phase-II has once again highlighted the grave risks sanitation workers face while cleaning sewers manually. Around 11:30 pm on Tuesday, four workers engaged in sewer cleaning fell unconscious after inhaling toxic gases. One of them, a 40-year-old man identified as Arvind from Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, was declared dead shortly after being rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh confirmed the death and said the remaining three victims — Sonu and Narayana, both residents of Kasganj, and Naresh from Bihar — were admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition. Doctors reported that all three were found in a drowsy state, battling the effects of toxic fumes.
Police Investigation Underway
According to officials, the workers were hired by a construction company that has been carrying out sewer cleaning operations in the area for several days. Preliminary investigations suggest that the workers entered the sewer without adequate safety equipment, exposing themselves to hazardous gases trapped inside.
A crime team was immediately dispatched to inspect the site, and the manager of the construction company has been summoned for questioning. Police have filed a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 106(1) for causing death by negligence, 289 for negligent use of machinery endangering human life, and 337. Authorities have also invoked provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
Manual Scavenging: A Persisting Menace
Despite the legal ban on manual scavenging, incidents of sanitation workers dying while cleaning sewers and septic tanks continue to surface across India. Experts have repeatedly pointed out that such tragedies are preventable if strict safety protocols and mechanised cleaning methods are implemented.
Activists say that contractors often deploy workers without protective gear, violating labour safety norms and risking lives for quick and cheap completion of tasks. The Ashok Vihar incident, they argue, underscores systemic negligence and the urgent need for accountability.
Reaction from Authorities
The Delhi Police have assured a thorough probe into the case and said that accountability will be fixed on those responsible. “It appears to be a clear case of negligence. Appropriate legal action has been initiated,” DCP Bhisham Singh stated.
Meanwhile, local residents expressed shock at the incident, saying that workers were frequently seen entering sewers without any visible safety precautions. Several community members demanded that authorities ensure proper enforcement of the 2013 Act to prevent similar tragedies.
A Call for Stronger Enforcement
Labour rights activists argue that the latest tragedy once again exposes the gap between legislation and on-ground realities. Though the law strictly prohibits manual scavenging, loopholes and lack of enforcement enable contractors to bypass safety norms.
Experts suggest the adoption of fully mechanised sewer-cleaning technologies, training of sanitation staff, and stricter monitoring of contractors as urgent reforms. They also emphasize that families of victims should receive compensation and rehabilitation support under the existing framework.
Conclusion
The Ashok Vihar sewer tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the hazardous conditions sanitation workers face daily. While police investigations continue, the incident has reignited public debate about unsafe working practices, weak enforcement of protective laws, and the ongoing menace of manual scavenging.
Until strong accountability measures are taken and mechanisation becomes the norm, such preventable deaths are likely to recur, costing the lives of those at society’s most vulnerable margins.
