Delhi sewer deaths: Kejriwal announces Rs 10 lakh, job for kin of victims

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said a committee will be formed to examine why such incidents happen frequently and what can be done to prevent them.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the three men who died on Sunday while trying to clean a drain in south Delhi.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the families of the victims along with water minister Rajendra Gautam. (Arun Sharma/Hindustan Times)

The three were cleaning a sewer line in Lajpat Nagar near the Kabir Ram temple on Sunday afternoon. They went inside, inhaled toxic fumes and were found unconscious.

Kejriwal, who visited the families of the victims along with water minister Rajendra Gautam, also announced that the Delhi government will give jobs to a family member of each of the three men.

In a similar incident three weeks ago in Ghitorni, four people died while trying to clean a rainwater harvesting pit which had turned into a sewage-filled septic tank due to lack of maintenance.

“We will form a high-powered committee to examine why such incidents keep happening. This is the second such incident in a month. We will try and figure what can be done to prevent such incidents,” the chief minister said.

Read: In Delhi sewer, three deaths in just seven minutes but not one cry for help

According to Kejriwal, a probe has been ordered and attempts are on to find out who the contractor was. “I asked the DJB CEO and he said that no such contract was given by the utility. Probe will bring out the truth. But I can assure you that whoever is responsible will get the strictest punishment,” he said.

The civic authorities are required to give boots, helmets, gloves and masks to sanitation staff but the guidelines are rarely followed.