Date: 2025-05-27Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of three workers and another’s condition critical due to asphyxiation while cleaning a sewage tank without safety gear at a private industrial unit, Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report regarding the deaths of three workers and the critical condition of another due to asphyxiation while cleaning a sewage tank without safety gear at a private industrial unit in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu, on May 19, 2025. The NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Government of Tamil Nadu, requesting a detailed report within four weeks. The report should include the status of the investigation and information regarding any compensation paid to the victims' families. The NHRC emphasizes the violation of human rights, citing a Supreme Court judgement advocating for the use of modern technology in sewer cleaning and its own advisory for the protection of individuals engaged in hazardous cleaning practices. The deceased workers belonged to the Scheduled Caste.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission: A national human rights organization; also referred to as NHRC, India.
NHRC, India: Abbreviated form of the National Human Rights Commission of India.
Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu: Location of the incident involving the death of workers.
Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu: Official to whom a notice has been issued by the NHRC, India.
Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu: Official to whom a notice has been issued by the NHRC, India.
Tamil Nadu: State in India where the incident and subsequent investigation are taking place.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi; source of the posted information.
Dyeing Mill in the Karaipudur area of Tiruppur: Workplace where the deceased workers were employed.
Apex Court: The highest court in India, presumably the Supreme Court of India.
Dr. Balram Singh vs Union of India: A court case relevant to the issue of manual scavenging and human rights.
WPC No. 324 of 2020: The writ petition number for the case of Dr. Balram Singh vs Union of India.
20.10.2023: Date of the judgement in the case Dr. Balram Singh vs Union of India.
Advisory on 24th September, 2021: An advisory issued by the NHRC concerning the protection of human rights of persons engaged in hazardous cleaning.
Union, State Governments and local authorities: Entities to whom the Advisory on 24th September, 2021 was issued.
Government of Tamil Nadu: The state government to whom notices were issued.
21st May, 2025: Date when the media report about the incident was published
Scheduled Caste: Social group to which the deceased workers belonged.
NSK Release ID: 2131686: Identification number of the press release.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported death of three workers and another’s
condition critical due to asphyxiation while cleaning a
sewage tank without safety gear at a private
industrial unit, Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu
Issues notices to the Chief Secretary, and the
Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, calling for a
detailed report in the matter within four weeks
The report to include the status of the investigation of
the case, as well as compensation, if any, paid to the
victim’s families
Posted On: 27 MAY 2025 5:54PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of media report that
three workers died while another’s condition became critical due to asphyxiation after they entered into a
sewage tank to clean it without any protective gear at a private industrial unit in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu
on 19th May, 2025. Reportedly, they were employed at a Dyeing Mill in the Karaipudur area of Tiruppur and
asked to clean the sewage tank of the factory.
The Commission has observed that the contents, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights. The
Apex Court, in its judgement passed in the case, Dr. Balram Singh vs Union of India (WP(C) No. 324 of
2020) dated 20.10.2023, has held that it is the duty of the local authorities and other agencies to use modern
technology for cleaning of sewers etc.
The Commission has also been consistently advocating a total ban on activities of hazardous cleaning without
adequate and proper protective / safety gears or equipment, and also has advocated suitable use of work-
friendly and technology-based robotic machines. It issued an Advisory on 24th September, 2021 for the
Protection of Human Rights of the Persons Engaged in Hazardous Cleaning to the Union, State Governments
and local authorities with an objective to ensure complete eradication of such practice.
Therefore, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police,
Government of Tamil Nadu, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. It is expected to
include the status of the investigation of the case as well as compensation, if any, paid to the victim’s families.
According to the media report, carried on 21st May, 2025, shortly after entering the tank, all four began to
suffocate and then collapsed. The co-workers pulled them out and rushed them to a private hospital, but threeof them could not survive. The deceased belonged to the Scheduled Caste.
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NSK
(Release ID: 2131686)