Kolkata, Feb 3 (PTI) – The West Bengal government has declared an ex gratia payment of ₹10 lakh each to the families of three labourers who lost their lives after falling into a drain while manually cleaning a manhole at the Kolkata Leather Complex.
Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim stated on Sunday that while the exact cause of their deaths would be determined after an official inquiry, it is suspected that they succumbed to toxic gas inhalation inside the drain.
The labourers were working on a Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) drainage network, servicing the leather complex units. However, Hakim expressed uncertainty over how such a significant accumulation of effluents had occurred in one part of the drainage system.
According to officials, one of the labourers slipped and fell into a 20-feet-deep drain while attempting to clear a manhole clogged with industrial waste from the leather units. In a desperate attempt to rescue him, two others jumped in but also got trapped.
Their bodies were recovered in the afternoon by personnel from the state disaster management team, fire brigade, and police.
Authorities are now investigating the circumstances leading to the incident, including any potential lapses in safety protocols.
Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim stated on Sunday that while the exact cause of their deaths would be determined after an official inquiry, it is suspected that they succumbed to toxic gas inhalation inside the drain.
The labourers were working on a Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) drainage network, servicing the leather complex units. However, Hakim expressed uncertainty over how such a significant accumulation of effluents had occurred in one part of the drainage system.
Tragic Sequence of Events
The deceased have been identified as Farzan Sheikh, Hasi Sheikh, and Suman Sardar. The incident unfolded in the Bantala area of eastern Kolkata on Sunday.According to officials, one of the labourers slipped and fell into a 20-feet-deep drain while attempting to clear a manhole clogged with industrial waste from the leather units. In a desperate attempt to rescue him, two others jumped in but also got trapped.
Their bodies were recovered in the afternoon by personnel from the state disaster management team, fire brigade, and police.
Incident Highlights Ongoing Safety Concerns
This tragic event comes just four days after the Supreme Court imposed a ban on manual scavenging and sewer cleaning in six metropolitan cities, including Kolkata. The case once again highlights the hazards of manual cleaningand the urgent need for enforcement of safer alternatives.Authorities are now investigating the circumstances leading to the incident, including any potential lapses in safety protocols.