Sikar : Three laborers died of suffocation while cleaning the sewerage tank in Sardarpura of Sikar district of Rajasthan on Tuesday evening. After this, the family members of the deceased sat on strike outside Fatehpur Trauma Center demanding financial compensation and other demands. The protest ended after a consensus was reached in talks with the district administration late at night.
Consensus reached on 3 demands
As agreed, each family of the deceased will be given a financial compensation of Rs 30 lakh each by the company. Along with this, the entire matter will be investigated by the competent officer on behalf of the district administration. Based on the report of the district administration, further action will be taken against the guilty personnel who were negligent in the matter. The family of the deceased will receive this amount as per government rules.
How did this accident happen?
On Tuesday, a sanitation worker descended into a 20 feet deep tank to clean the sewage tank, but he became unconscious due to poisonous gases. After some time, two companions went inside to save him, but they also became unconscious due to the poisonous gases. This accident happened at around 4:30 pm. On receiving information about the accident, police, regional MLA Hakam Ali Khan, and others reached the spot. The police team took out all three and took them to the hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
illegal to enter sewer
The laborers who lost their lives in this accident are Sajjan (30), Mukesh (35) and Mahendra (38). Under the Manual Scavenging Act 2013, it is completely illegal to send any person down to clean sewers in the country. There is a provision that if under special circumstances employees are sent to the chamber to clean the drain, then certain rules will have to be strictly followed. The employee must be insured, must work under the direction of a supervisor, and must obtain written permission before the employee begins work. However, the rules were not followed in this case.
The news of the tragic death due to suffocation of workers who had come to clean the septic tank in Fatehpur area of Sikar district is extremely sad.
Under the Manual Scavenging Act 2013, there are many rules for the safety of employees, which are very important to be followed.
The unfortunate thing is that as per the rules…— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) October 22, 2024
Sachin Pilot raised questions
Political reactions have also started coming on this incident. Former Deputy CM of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot wrote on Twitter, ‘The news of the painful death due to suffocation of workers who had come to clean the septic tank in Fatehpur area of Sikar district is extremely sad. Under the Manual Scavenging Act 2013, there are many rules for the safety of employees, which are very important to be followed. The unfortunate thing is that even today workers are losing their lives due to indifference towards rules. The administration should provide appropriate compensation to the families of the deceased and strict action should be taken if safety rules are not followed. I express my condolences to the families of the deceased.
The death of 3 sanitation workers while cleaning the sewerage tank in Fatehpur, Sikar is extremely painful. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.
The government should investigate and take strict action against the culprits and give appropriate compensation to the families of the deceased.
— Govind Singh Dotasra (@GovindDotasra) October 22, 2024
Demand for action against the culprits
Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasara wrote on Twitter, ‘The death of 3 sanitation workers while cleaning the sewerage tank in Fatehpur, Sikar is extremely painful. I express my deep condolences to the bereaved family members. The government should investigate and take strict action against the culprits and give appropriate compensation to the families of the deceased. Till the time of writing the news, no statement has come out from the government on this accident. However, the district administration has said that action will be taken.
