Workers' death: NHRC notices to district authorities in UP

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today issued notices to the district authorities of Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh over the death of two workers allegedly due to inhalation of poisonous gas while cleaning a manhole.
According to an NHRC statement, notices were served to the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar, calling for reports within four weeks.
The step was taken after the Commission took suo motu cognisance of a media report that a person allegedly got asphyxiated while cleaning a manhole and the other who went to save his life died later in the ESI Hospital in NOIDA.

The media report carried, on February 28, also said that the incident happened when one Bablu Valmiki, cleaner at the ESI Hospital, was allegedly asked by his contractor to re-enter the manhole after he found that it was not properly cleaned.
The statement said when Bablu did not return, one of his relatives, Shyamveer, entered the manhole to rescue him. However, he also became victim of poisonous gas and reportedly no protective gear was provided to them while entering the manhole, it said.
The Commission observed that the contents of the press report, if true, amounts to violation of human rights of the victims.