Two inhale poisonous gas, taken ill

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 9

Two sewermen were taken ill after inhaling poisonous fumes while they were cleaning manholes at Ballaram Nagar in the city on Monday.

They were taken to a private hospital from where they were shifted to the Civil Hospital in a serious condition.

As information reached other workers, leaders and workers of the sewerage workers union reached the Civil Hospital and demanded action against officials of Triveni Company for negligence and “playing with the lives of workers”.

They also warned that if action was not taken in the coming days, they would intensify their protest.

Sewerage workers union president Nem Chand and others said Raju, a resident of Sanjay Nagar, and Satish, a resident of Sangat Mandi, work under Triveni Company, which has got the contract for maintenance and cleaning of the sewerage in the city.

They said on Monday, when they were doing desilting work near Ballaram Nagar, an official of Triveni Company told them to go into the manhole, whereas instead of doing manual scavenging, they should have done desilting using machines.

It is a violation of norms as these workers were forced to do go into the sewer due to which they inhaled poisonous fumes and went unconscious.

It is learnt that officials first told the first worker to go into the sewerage and when his health started deteriorating, the other worker was send inside, which clearly indicates the negligence of the officials, the union leaders added.

The union leaders alleged that sewerage workers needed helmets, masks, cylinders, shoes and gloves for their safety, but workers are not provided such things.

Triveni Company official Sri Niwas said, “If any official negligence was responsible for putting the lives of the workers in danger, then strict action would be initiated against the officials concern. We are conducting a probe into the incident.”

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said, “When there are small and big super sucker machines for doing the desilting work, why workers were told to go into the sewerage”.

“The issue is in notice and a probe will be conducted. If any negligence of any official comes to the fore, strict action would be taken,” he added.

Emergency medical officer at the Civil Hospital, Harshit Goyal, said two manual scavengers were brought after they felt unconscious after going into the sewerage, but now, their condition was stable.

“Still we will keep them under observation for 24 hours,” he added.

Union demands action

• As information reached other workers, leaders and workers of the sewerage workers union reached the Civil Hospital and demanded action against officials of Triveni Company for negligence and “playing with the lives of workers”. 
• Sewerage workers union president Nem Chand and others said Raju, a resident of Sanjay Nagar, and Satish, a resident of Sangat Mandi, work under Triveni Company, which has got the contract for maintenance and cleaning of the sewerage in the city.