3 die of poisonous gas while cleaning sewerage in F’bad

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 29

Three workers of a contractor of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad, including a father and son duo, died after inhaling a poisonous gas while cleaning a sewerage here today. Two others, who fell unconscious while trying to save fellow workers, were admitted to hospital. The Municipal Corporation Faridabad Safai Workers Union has demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each and a government job to kin of the victims, besides registration of a criminal case against those responsible for the incident.

The incident took place this noon when the workers employed by a contractor were cleaning a sewerage near the disposal point located on the dividing road of Sectors 30 and 31 here.

Attar Singh (48), his son Rahul (26) and Santosh (30), who had descended in the sewerage, fainted after inhaling a poisonous gas. Two other workers, Rakesh and Manish Kumar, immediately got down into the sewerage and tried to pull the trio out but they also fell unconscious, it is learnt.

People who had gathered there informed the police, who arrived there and pulled all the workers out. They were taken to a private hospital where the doctors declared three of them brought dead while Rakesh and Manish were admitted. Their condition is stated to be stable.

Balbir Singh, president of the MCF Safai Workers Union, expressed concern over the incident and demanded registration of a case against the contractor and the SDO in charge of the area for alleged gross negligence. He alleged that the workers were not provided the safety kit mandatory for such a job. He demanded a compensation of at least Rs 20 lakh each and a government job to kin of victims’ families, besides measures to prevent such incidents in future.

As many as 16 MC employees had lost their lives in similar incidents during the past 10 years, Balbir said, adding that a worker died last year.

Municipal Commissioner Sonal Goel said compensation would be given to the families of the victims according to the policy and action would be taken against those found guilty of neglecting the safety provisions. She added guidelines had been issued to all those involved with such a work.