Date: 2025-10-06Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a sanitation worker and hospitalisation of two others due to inhalation of toxic gases while cleaning a sewer in Satna, Madhya Pradesh
On October 6, 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, took suo motu cognizance of a media report regarding the death of a sanitation worker and the hospitalization of two others after inhaling toxic gases while cleaning a sewer in Satna district, Madhya Pradesh, on September 25, 2025. Notices have been issued to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, and the Superintendent of Police, Satna, Madhya Pradesh, requesting a detailed report within two weeks. The report should include the status of the investigation and details regarding compensation, if any, paid to the next of kin of the deceased worker and the injured workers. The Commission observed that the incident raises serious human rights concerns, and despite Supreme Court directives and NHRC advisories, sanitation workers are still being deputed without adequate protective gear and machines. The Release ID is 2175429.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): Takes suo motu cognizance of the death of a sanitation worker in Satna, Madhya Pradesh.
Satna, Madhya Pradesh: Location where the incident involving sanitation workers occurred.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported death of a sanitation worker and
hospitalisation of two others due to inhalation of toxic
gases while cleaning a sewer in Satna, Madhya
Pradesh
Issues notices to the Commissioner, Municipal
Corporation and Superintendent of Police, Satna,
calling for a detailed report within two weeks
The report is expected to include the status of the
investigation and compensation, if any, paid to the
next of kin of the deceased and the injured workers
Posted On: 06 OCT 2025 5:36PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report
that a sanitation worker died and two others were hospitalised in a critical condition after inhaling toxic gases
while cleaning an underground sewer line in Satna district, Madhya Pradesh on 25th September, 2025.
Reportedly, the workers had fallen unconscious inside the sewer. The local residents pulled them out and
rushed them to the hospital.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of human
rights violation. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation and the
Superintendent of Police, Satna, Madhya Pradesh, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two
weeks.
The report is expected to include the status of the investigation and compensation, if any, paid to the next of
kin of the deceased worker and to those injured.
Issuing the notices, the Commission has also observed that in spite of directions given by the Supreme Court
and its Advisory issued to all the States and Union Territories to ensure the safety of sanitation workers, such
tragic incidents still happen. It appears that the authorities had deputed the workers without protective gear
and machines to clean the sewer lines.
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NSK(Release ID: 2175429)