India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has jumped into action over a heartbreaking incident in Delhi where one sanitation worker died and three others suffered critical injuries during sewer cleaning in the Ashok Vihar area.
The tragedy unfolded late at night, prompting a frantic call to the Police Control Room. Emergency teams rushed all four workers to Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital. Doctors pronounced one man dead on arrival, while the other three landed in the intensive care unit (ICU) fighting for their lives.
Co-workers point fingers at the private construction company that hired them, claiming the firm didn’t provide any safety equipment for the dangerous job. Right now, police are grilling the company’s manager to get to the bottom of what went wrong.
The NHRC spotted the story in media reports and took suo motu notice—meaning they acted on their own without waiting for a formal complaint. If the details hold up, this points to major human rights violations, the commission said.
It’s a stark reminder that despite clear orders from India’s Supreme Court and repeated NHRC warnings to states and union territories, accidents like this keep claiming lives among sanitation workers. These folks often face deadly risks from toxic gases and poor conditions in sewers and manholes.
In response, the NHRC fired off notices to Delhi’s Chief Secretary for the NCT government, the Municipal Corporation Commissioner, and the Delhi Police Commissioner. They want a full report in just two weeks, covering the police investigation, updates on the injured workers’ health, and any compensation paid to the deceased worker’s family and the survivors.
For those unfamiliar, the NHRC is India’s top watchdog for human rights. Set up under the 1993 Protection of Human Rights Act, this independent body fights to safeguard basics like life, freedom, equality, and dignity—rights backed by the Constitution and global agreements. They step in on their own whenever reports of abuses surface in the news or public eye, pushing for justice and better protections.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
