Two manual scavengers choked to death in Karnataka

Kalaburagi: Two brothers who were doing manual scavenging work in a manhole subjected to death in Karnataka's Kalaburagi on Thursday. The horrific incident took place in Kailas Nagar when Lal Ahamed (30) and Rasheed Ahmed (25) were engaging in a manual scavenging work at an 18 feet deep manhole.

Both of them were working as labourers under Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB). As soon as the accident happened another sanitation worker, and also a relative of them took both to hospital. The deceased brothers were the residents of Azadpur road of Kalaburagi.

According to the witness on Thursday afternoon, three of the sanitation workers were removing a clog. Lack of oxygen in the manhole forced Lal Ahamed and Rasheed to death. People were screaming near to them and they took the unconscious workers to GIMS hospital. The father of deceased brothers Ahmed Sab is also a civic worker under KUWSDB.

However after this, a statement is issued by Snehal Sudhakar Lokhande,Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike Commissioner, and said the incident occurred in an under construction Under Ground Drainage (UGD) but not in the manhole. KUWSDB announced that it will soon provide compensation to the family members of deceased brothers. Following the incident protests happened outside near to GIMS hospital. Corporation has informed to media that if the officials found guilty strict action will be taken against them.

Safai Karamchari Commission recently revealed that between 2010 to 2020, a total of631 sewer and septic tank cleaners had lost their lives. According to its statistics the highest number of deaths were reported in 2019. It was on January 3rd this year Safai Karamchari Andolan kick started a 100 day campaign 'Mission 2021' in order to stop the practice of manual scavenging by bringing down the use of dry toilets in Uttarakhand.

Earlier, Government of India also announced its aim to eliminate manual scavenging across India by August 2021.