32-year-old man drowns after entering sewer for cleaning

New Delhi: A 32-year-old man died on Sunday after he was drowned inside a sewer in north west Delhi's Jahangirpuri area.

Delhi Police said they have registered a case in this regard and investigation is on to find out whose negligence led to the incident.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North West) AK Lal said that at around 7.30 am, information was received at Jahangirpuri police station from Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, that one Dooman Ray – a native of Katihar in Bihar – was brought dead from Delhi Jal Board Pump House, G-Block, Jahangirpuri.

It came to light that Ray and three other men were tasked with cleaning the sewer, and Ray drowned minutes after he was lowered into the sewer.

"Delhi Jal Board has given the contract to M/s KK Spun India Ltd for repair and rehabilitation of sewerage in Jahangirpuri.

"Today, at around 5:30 am, the deceased went down into the sewage hole to open a valve and died," said Lal.

Cops claimed that in such cases, a person who enters a sewer should to be pulled out of the manhole by the other labourers within three minutes.

However, in Sunday's tragedy, the other were unable to lift Ray out on time, which led to his demise.

An investigation is under progress to find out whether the victim had any safety gears. Meanwhile, when asked about the contractors involved, police said they are yet to locate the accused and arrest anyone.

Cops further said that a case under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code, read with sections 7 and 9 of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, has been registered.

Bejnath, an acquaintance of Ray who lived near his house in Bihar, said he came to know of the incident in the morning.

"When Dooman went inside, after some time, he did not respond. So he was taken out and rushed to the hospital, where he died," said Bejnath.

He added that a few months ago, Ray had gone to his village in Bihar to meet his minor daughter and wife.

Cleanliness workers dying of suffocation or drowning in sewers has become a serious issue in Delhi. In September, a man died after he went inside a manhole for cleaning in Dwarka.

In the same month, five men died after they entered a sewage treatment plant for maintenance work in west Delhi's Moti Nagar area.