For extra Rs 500, four victims agreed to clean tank

DABHOI: Uncertainty looms large over three families living in Thuvavi village of Dabhoi after their sole bread earners died on Friday midnight while cleaning Hotel Darshan’s septic tank for a meagre Rs 500.
Ashok Harijan was working as a housekeeper in a private clinic in Dabhoi town, where his Hitesh Harijan worked as a sweeper. Mahesh Harijan worked as a casual daily-wage labourer, while Mahesh Patanwadiya was a small farmer. The lure of earning extra Rs 500 each took them to Hotel Darshan, while none of them had any experience in cleaning septic tanks.
Ashok’s family, now left with his wife and 15-year-old son, is facing an uncertain future after the mishap.
“The government has announced compensation, but I don’t know what we will do with the amount,” said Ashok’s cousin Bharat. The neighbours say that all responsibility will now fall on the 15-year-old to feed both himself and his mother.
A few metres away from Ashok’s ‘kutcha’ home, Mahesh’s young pregnant wife was uncontrollable while following her husband’s funeral procession. They had been married for only two years now. “It is going to be very difficult for her as she is pregnant. Mahesh was the only bread earner of the family and was taking care of her elder sister too,” said Thakor Solanki, uncle-in-law of the deceased.
In Duttnagar Society, Patanwadiya’s elderly father Raman was a much broken man who kept staring blankly at the front door of the house.
“After his elder son had passed away a few years back, Patanwadiya was his only support. But now, his death had completely destroyed the old man,” said Patanwadiya’s neighbour Mukesh Rathwa. Patanwadiya is survived by his elderly father, wife and 22-year-old son Nilesh, who has just completed his studies.
Hitesh’s brother-in-law Jatin Solanki said he used to work in the hotel as a housekeeper until a year ago. The hotel’s management had contacted him to clean the septic tank.
“Rs 500 is a handsome wage for all of them as their incomes are measly,” said Jatin, adding that Hitesh talked to the other three and all agreed to go to the hotel near Fartikui after their dinner.
Nilesh Bhatt, a villager said that none of them had ever cleaned any septic tanks earlier and were therefore ignorant about the toxic gases emanating from the tank.