Five ragpickers drown in drain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 29

In a tragic incident five ragpickers, including three minors, were drowned in a drain in West Delhi in the morning hours today while they were picking rags from the drain side, according to a police official.

“Three children — Sahidul (10), Sabikul (9), and Lalsun (12) — were ragpickers and went inside a drain in the Chhawla area to pick some garbage but drowned inside. Two men Hassidull (26) and Afsae Ali (30), who went to rescue the children also drowned in the drain. The men were also ragpickers, according to a DCP Surender Kumar (West Delhi).

With the police assistance, locals pulled out the victims from the drain, and took them to Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital in Jaffarpur. The doctors declared them brought dead, added the DCP.

The incident took place around 11.15 a.m. in Shyam Kunj Goyala village near Chhawla.  

Delhi Fire Service  official said, “After receiving the emergency call we sent one fire tender to the spot but our men could not save the victims,” said a DSF official.