When their deaths failed to raise a stink: Negligence kills two migrant workers in Delhi’s sewer | Delhi News
NEW DELHI: Vijay Mochi came from Begusarai to Delhi with his wife, Ruby, hoping to build a better future. Instead, an act of shocking negligence cost him his life and left his family shattered.On Feb 21 last year, Vijay (35), who had no prior experience in cleaning sewers, was asked to enter a sewer chamber near an apartment complex in Narela along with another worker, Nandram.
The two dutifully climbed down. Several minutes passed in silence. Supervisor Anil Kumar, standing outside, called them many times. Receiving no response, he entered the chamber. The toxic fumes overwhelmed him, too, and he passed out. Panic ensued. Other workers used ropes to pull out the unconscious men and rushed them to hospital, where Vijay and Nandram were declared dead.It’s been nearly a year, and Ruby (30) has since left Delhi and returned to Bihar, her dreams of a better tomorrow gone along with her husband.Before that fateful day, Vijay and Ruby used to work as labourers at the construction site of a private company. His primary job was cutting iron rods. According to Vicky, his brother-in-law, neither was Vijay trained in cleaning sewers nor was he given any protective gear by the company. The family received 14 lakh as compensation, but got no update regarding the case, Vicky says.
Raj Kumar Das, another relative of Vijay, says the latter used to send most of his earnings home to support his parents. “He was calm, composed and hardworking. It was not an accident, negligence killed him,” Das says.Nandram, the other deceased worker, was a native of MP’s Tikamgarh. His brother, Gyasiram, says he had been working in Delhi for 12 years and that both he and his wife were employed at the same site. “All he wanted was to educate his two children,” Gyasiram says.
Delhi Development Authority had termed the deaths unfortunate and painful. “The site was being developed by the private company, which was also responsible for maintaining a sewage treatment plant and the adjoining sewer system. So, the liability falls solely on it, an official of the authority said, adding, “A report has been sought. Action will be taken if any discrepancy or negligence is found.”Police registered a case under Sections 125A (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 106 (causing death by negligence) of BNS, Section 9 of Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act, and SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Kumar, the supervisor of the company, and an engineer. “Trial in the case is on,” police said.
