Ambedkarnagar, Uttar Pradesh – A tragic incident at Mahamaya Rajkiya Allopathic Medical College in Ambedkarnagar has left the local community in shock. On Thursday, two workers lost their lives while cleaning a sewer line on the college premises. A third worker is fighting for his life in critical condition. The accident has raised serious concerns about worker safety and the lack of proper equipment during hazardous tasks.
What Happened?
The incident occurred in the afternoon when three workers—Surendra from Rampur Kala, Maniram from the same village, and Devanand from Chahoda Ghat in Alapur—were tasked with cleaning a sewer line at the medical college. According to reports, Surendra was descending into the sewer using a bamboo ladder when he slipped and fell. Seeing him in trouble, Maniram and Devanand jumped in to rescue him. Tragically, all three workers were overcome by toxic gases or drowned in the sewage, leading to the deaths of Maniram and Devanand. Surendra was pulled out alive but remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
Local authorities used a JCB machine to break open the sewer line and retrieve the workers. Despite the quick response, Maniram and Devanand could not be saved. The incident has left their families devastated and sparked outrage among locals over the unsafe working conditions.
Growing Concerns Over Safety
This tragedy has brought attention to the dangers faced by workers in sewer cleaning jobs. Many such workers are employed by private contractors who often fail to provide safety gear like masks, gloves, or oxygen equipment. In this case, witnesses reported that the workers were not wearing any protective equipment, which likely contributed to the fatal outcome.
A local resident, who witnessed the rescue efforts, said, “It was heartbreaking to see. They went in without any masks or safety belts. How can contractors send workers into such dangerous places without proper protection? This needs to stop.”
The Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Sadanand Gupta, has promised a thorough investigation into the incident. “We are looking into what happened and will take strict action against those responsible,” he said. Authorities have not yet named the contractor overseeing the sewer cleaning work, but an inquiry is underway to determine if negligence played a role.
Community Response
The news of the deaths spread quickly, and grieving family members and coworkers gathered at the medical college, demanding answers and justice. Many expressed anger at the lack of oversight and accountability in such hazardous jobs. “These workers risk their lives every day, and no one cares about their safety,” said a relative of one of the deceased workers.
A Larger Issue
This incident is not an isolated one. Across India, sewer cleaning accidents claim numerous lives every year. In 2023 alone, government data reported 49 deaths in similar incidents, with Rajasthan accounting for a significant share. The Supreme Court has repeatedly called for better safety measures and compensation for victims’ families, but implementation remains patchy.
Activists are urging authorities to enforce the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, which bans manual sewer cleaning without proper safety measures. They also demand that contractors be held accountable for failing to provide protective gear.
