Date: 2026-04-24Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of two sanitation workers and injuries to another after inhaling poisonous gases while cleaning a sewer line at Ambedkar Chowk of the Firozpur Jhirka area in the Nuh district, Haryana
**Executive Summary**
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken *suo motu* cognizance of the deaths of two sanitation workers and the injury of another due to toxic gas inhalation in Nuh, Haryana, on April 15, 2026. The Commission has cited serious human rights violations and a failure to adhere to safety guidelines regarding the manual cleaning of sewers. Formal notices have been issued to local authorities, requiring a detailed report on investigation and compensation status within two weeks of the notice.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Incident Overview**
* Two sanitation workers died and one was injured after inhaling poisonous gases while cleaning a sewer line at Ambedkar Chowk, Nuh district, on April 15, 2026.
* The workers were reportedly deployed by a contractor for the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) without any safety gear.
* Media reports indicate the workers fainted sequentially after entering the sewer line to assist one another.
**Regulatory and Safety Violations**
* The NHRC noted that the incident occurred despite Supreme Court guidelines and NHRC Advisories mandating the mechanized cleaning of sewer lines and the provision of safety gear.
* The Commission expressed concern over the frequent recurrence of such incidents across the country.
**NHRC Procedural Actions**
* The NHRC has issued formal notices to the Nuh Municipal Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police.
* The Commission observed that the reported facts, if true, constitute a significant violation of the victims' human rights.
**Mandatory Reporting Requirements**
* Authorities must provide a report within a two-week deadline.
* The report must include the current status of the investigation and the health status of the injured worker.
* Documentation regarding compensation for the injured worker and the next of kin (NoK) of the deceased is required.
**Impact Analysis**
**Nuh Municipal Commissioner and Superintendent of Police**
**Impact**
These officials are held accountable for the safety failure and must respond to the Commission's inquiry regarding the violation of established safety protocols and guidelines.
**Action Required**
Prepare and submit a detailed report to the NHRC within two weeks covering investigation progress, the survivor's health, and compensation details.
**PHED Contractor**
**Impact**
The contractor faces investigation for deploying workers without safety gear in violation of Supreme Court and NHRC mandates.
**Action Required**
Subject to the ongoing investigation into the deployment of workers and the lack of safety equipment.
**Injured Worker and Next of Kin (NoK) of the Deceased**
**Impact**
The victims and their families have suffered life-altering injuries or loss of life due to negligence and human rights violations.
**Action Required**
The injured worker is to receive medical care, and both the survivor and the NoK are to receive financial compensation as mandated by the Commission’s oversight.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): The statutory body that took suo motu cognizance of human rights violations involving the death of sanitation workers.
Supreme Court Guidelines: Legal directives mandating the mechanised cleaning of sewer lines and the provision of safety gear for workers.
NHRC Advisory: A specific policy document issued by the Commission emphasizing safety protocols and mechanised cleaning for sanitation workers.
Public Health Engineering Department (PHED): The state government department responsible for the contractor who deployed workers without required safety gear.
Nuh, Haryana: The primary location of the incident and jurisdiction where notices were issued to local authorities.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported death of two sanitation workers and
injuries to another after inhaling poisonous gases
while cleaning a sewer line at Ambedkar Chowk
of the Firozpur Jhirka area in the Nuh district,
Haryana
Expresses concern over recurrence of such incidents despite
the Supreme Court guidelines and NHRC Advisory
emphasising the mechanised cleaning of sewer lines with
safety gear for sanitation workers
Issues notices to the Nuh Municipal Commissioner and the
Superintendent of Police, calling for a detailed report on the
matter within two weeks
The report expected to include the status of the investigation,
health of the injured and compensation to him as well as the
NoK of the deceased
Posted On: 24 APR 2026 3:00PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report
that two sanitation workers died and another was injured after inhaling poisonous gases while cleaning a
sewer line at the Ambedkar Chowk of Firozpur Jhirka area in the Nuh district of Haryana on 15th April
2026. Reportedly, the contractor engaged by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) of the
state government had deployed three workers for cleaning the sewer line without any safety gear.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of human
rights violations of the victims. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Nuh Municipal Commissioner and
the Superintendent of Police, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is
expected to include the status of the investigation, health of the injured and compensation to him as well
as the next of kin (NoK) of the deceased workers.
Issuing the notices, the Commission has also noted that in spite of guidelines issued by the Supreme Court
and its specific Advisory emphasising the mechanised cleaning of sewer lines/ manholes with safety gear
for the sanitation workers, such incidents are occurring frequently across the country.According to the media report, carried on 16th April 2026, one of the three workers first entered the sewer
line and fainted. The others also fainted when they entered the sewer to help him. They were pulled out
and taken to the hospital, where two of them were declared dead by the doctors.
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NSK
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