Toll in Oct 8 sewer tragedy rises to 3 after another death

New Delhi: Srinath Soren, the third labourer who fell unconscious while cleaning a sewer at a construction site in southwest Delhi's Pillanji village on Oct 8, has died, according to police. Two labourers had died on the day of the incident after inhaling poisonous gases in the sewer.
Soren's uncle, Philip Maadi, 36, said a young man had lost his life for no fault of his."He wasn't someone who cleaned sewers, just a contractual labour who worked from time to time. On most days, he took up driving assignments and worked part-time in Delhi and part-time in other states," said Maadi.
Soren had been in the ICU fighting for his life for a week before succumbing on Oct 16. He is survived by his 22-year-old wife, his 8-year-old daughter Surmila and 6-year-old son Komal. The family is believed to have been promised a compensation of Rs 8 lakh.
A police officer said that the case is being investigated and the post-mortem report is awaited to ascertain the cause of death. A forensic team is also analysing samples collected from the incident spot.
Delhi Police have questioned the construction project manager and company employees in the case. Police sources said that the questioning was related to the chain of command and the reasons for which these labourers were hired. "They were asked by whose authority these labourers were ordered to enter the sewer," a police source said. The cops are trying to determine whose negligence led to the mishap. So far, no arrests have been made in the case.
Cops registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita's sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) at Sarojini Nagar police station.
Sources said that Section 9 of the Manual Scavengers and Rehabilitation Act has now been added. The section says that whoever contravenes provisions of Section 7 (prohibition of persons from engagement or employment for hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks) are liable for punishment with imprisonment that may extend to two years or with a fine that may extend to Rs 2 lakh or with both in the first instance and for any subsequent contravention, with imprisonment extending to five years or a fine extending to Rs 5 lakh or both.