New Delhi- In a tragic incident in East Delhi's Dilshad Garden area, a young sanitation worker named Rahul lost his life after falling into a deep drain while cleaning it without any safety gear. The incident took place on March 30, at around 2:00 PM near the Q-Pocket drain culvert adjacent to Deer Park.
Rahul, who was cleaning the drain, slipped and fell into the deep drain due to the absence of any safety equipment. He was rushed to GTB Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
An FIR (No. 0186) was registered on March 30 at the Seemapuri Police Station under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complainant, a co-worker named Captain, explicitly stated in his police complaint that the contractor, Ajit, and supervisor, Anwar Ahmed, did not provide any safety gear to the workers. Both workers were paid merely ₹350 per day for this hazardous work.
Following the heartbreaking accident, the victim's family is in deep mourning. Rahul's nephew, Rahul Chauhan, told The Mooknayak that his uncle was the sole breadwinner for the family. The victim's elderly mother lives in a small 4x8-foot tarpaulin shack and was completely dependent on her son's daily wages.
The family has appealed to the administration for justice, demanding a compensation of ₹1 crore and a government job for one family member.
On the legal front, the family's lawyer, Sachin Dhingia, stated that while police have registered a case of negligence, they are making efforts to get charges under the 'Manual Scavenging Act' and the 'SC/ST Act' added to the case. The lawyer believes that including these sections will legally ensure better compensation and rehabilitation for the victim's family. The matter is also being brought to the notice of the SC Commission to pressure the police administration into taking appropriate action.
In 2025, a total of 121 people died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks as per a data from Safai Karmchari Andolan, but the government registered just 46 deaths. Similarly, in 2024, the death figure was 116, but the government recorded only 55 deaths.
The incident has triggered political reactions in the region. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators Kuldeep Kumar and Veer Singh Dhingan met the victim's family and expressed their condolences. AAP leaders have accused the ruling BJP administration in Delhi of gross negligence, terming the incident a "murder."
While some media reports and political statements have claimed the death was caused by poisonous gas, the official FIR registered with the police states that the death occurred due to slipping and drowning in the absence of safety equipment.
Amidst the political blame game, a helpless, impoverished family continues to wait for justice for their lost son.
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