Sanitation worker dies while cleaning sewer at LNJP Hospital; three taken ill : The Tribune India

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Sanitation worker dies while cleaning sewer at LNJP Hospital; three taken ill

NEW DELHI:Another sanitation worker, Rishi Pal (40), died while cleaning a sewer at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital while three were taken ill on Sunday.

Sanitation worker dies while cleaning sewer at LNJP Hospital; three taken ill

Relatives mourn for Rishi Pal, a sanitation worker, who died while cleaning a sewer at LNJP Hospital in New Delhi on Sunday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui



Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 20

Another sanitation worker, Rishi Pal (40), died while cleaning a sewer at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital while three were taken ill on Sunday.

This has taken the total number of deaths related to cleaning of sewers to 10 in the national Capital in about a month, as per the government.

Coming at a time when there seems to be little headway in the probe behind the string of sewer deaths, it has necessitated the need for the government to revise the parameters for the entire cleaning job and in the process fix the responsibility of the officers and contractors concerned.

Rishi Pal along with Bishan, 30, Kiran Pal, 25, and Sumit, 30 is said to have fallen unconscious after inhaling poisonous gases while cleaning the sewer at hospital.

Authorities, including Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police (Central), confirmed that Rishi Pal died and the other three were undergoing treatment.

Four workers had entered a sewer this morning when they lost consciousness apparently due to poisonous gas. The incident was reported around 12.30 p.m.

According to DCP MS Randhawa, (Central Delhi), “The hospital had outsourced the work of cleaning the sewer. We are probing the matter. One worker died and others fell ill. The deceased has been identified as Rishipal. Others are undergoing treatment.”

Earlier this week, the Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal had decided to hold an emergency meeting with executive engineers and senior officials of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) on August 22 in view of the death of sanitation workers.

In little more than a month, Delhi has reported ten shocking deaths with first such recent instance reported on July 15 when four persons died while cleaning water harvesting tank in Ghitorni in south Delhi.

On August 6, three persons died after inhaling toxic gases while cleaning a sewer in South Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar area followed by the death of two brothers while cleaning a septic pit at a mall in Anand Vihar on August 12.

The same day, the government announced setting up of a vigilance committee to monitor “blatant violations” of provisions of the prohibition of Manual Scavenging Act despite the Supreme Court ruling.

Water Minister Rajendra Gautam had expressed concern over the audacity of private contractors who he said have no fear of law. He had assured of strict action against violators.

Meanwhile, the Swaraj India demanded answers from the government blaming it for the recent deaths claiming that the contractors of the Public Works Department had employed the sanitation workers without providing them safety equipment.

The party’s Delhi president Anupam said the AAP government has betrayed the section after coming to power. “Even today sanitation workers are forced to go inside sewer lines without safety gear,” he said demanding a white paper from the government on the problems faced by them in the city.

Health and PWD Minister Satyendar Jain met the injured at the hospital late night and sought a detailed report from the authority concerned. He said the action will be taken following the report.

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