Sewer accident in Jhotwara, Jaipur: Two sanitation workers died due to suffocation, questions raised on negligence

capital of rajasthan Jaipur Of Jhotwara A tragic accident came to light in the area on Saturday, where two sanitation workers died due to suffocation due to poisonous gas while cleaning the sewer tank. This incident has once again exposed the neglect of safety standards in urban settings.

According to the information received, Ajay (41), a resident of Shastri Nagar, had come down to clean the sewer line at Shekhawat Marg on Niwadu Road at around 3 pm. After some time, when Rambabu (40), a resident of Banipark, standing above, called out to him and did not get any response, he himself entered the sewer out of apprehension. Both of them suffocated due to the poisonous gas inside, especially methane, and died on the spot.

This accident has happened at a time when clear safety guidelines already exist regarding cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. As per the rules, the use of machines in such operations is mandatory and in any emergency, sending humans inside without safety equipment like PPE kits, gas detectors and oxygen support is prohibited. Despite this, these rules were not followed, due to which this tragic incident occurred.

After the incident, a meeting was organized between the administration, contractor and social representatives late in the night. During this, it was agreed to give compensation to the families of the deceased. According to the provision decided, a total financial assistance of Rs 55 lakh will be given to the family of each deceased. This includes Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Rs 10 lakh from the Municipal Corporation, Rs 10 lakh from the contractor and Rs 30 lakh from the Social Justice Department. Initially an assistance amount of Rs 5 lakh has been handed over to the family members.

Apart from this, the families of the deceased have also been assured of allotment of dairy booth and employment on contract basis. After a consensus was reached between the administration and the employees, the proposed strike has been postponed and the employees are ready to return to work from Saturday.

Many questions are being raised regarding fixing responsibility in this entire matter. The responsibility of monitoring was on the concerned officials of Jhotwara zone, while the contract of sewer cleaning was given to a private company. It is alleged that availability of adequate security resources was not ensured, due to which this accident occurred.

Orders have been given by the Municipal Corporation Administration to investigate the matter. Officials say that an investigation committee will be formed, which will investigate the entire incident impartially. If negligence is found at any level, strict action will be taken against the people concerned.

This incident not only raises questions on the administrative system, but also shows that there is still a serious lack of compliance with security rules at the ground level. Experts believe that strict monitoring and accountability are essential to prevent such incidents.

Local people and social organizations have also expressed deep grief over this incident and demanded strict action against the culprits, so that such incidents can be prevented from recurring in future.