Three men died of asphyxiation, one after the other, while cleaning a sewer line without any safety gear on Thursday in Noida, Sector 110.
According to the police, the incident happened around 4 p.m. near BDS market where sewer cleaning work was in progress. One of the workers had entered the manhole first and did not return for almost 20 minutes. Two more men then entered the manhole to look for him.
Contractor absconding
“The locals didn’t see the workers coming out of the sewer for a long time and informed us. A rescue team reached the spot and it took them around 2 hours to get the bodies out of the tank,” said Arun Singh, Superintendent of police (City), Noida.
They were rushed to the district hospital where they were declared dead.
Two of the men were identified as Rajesh (27) and Vikas (26), both residents of Sector 9, Noida.
Noida Authority officials said the three workers were employed by a contractor, Somveer, who is missing.
“We are on the lookout for the contractor, who is said to be absconding. A committee has been set up and a report will be filed in a week. Strict action will be taken against the guilty,” said Rakesh Mishra, additional chief executive officer, Noida Authority.
The authority will also provide a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the deceased’s families.