Ghaziabad Manhole Horror: Safety Gear Ignored

A Ghaziabad incident on July 2, where a sanitary worker entered a manhole without any safety equipment, has led to an inquiry by the Municipal Commissioner and a notice from the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis. The commission has requested a report within 30 days regarding how this prohibited practice was permitted. This event directly contravenes the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. This law strictly forbids manual scavenging and mandates penalties of up to two years imprisonment and a Rs 1 lakh fine for violations. In response, a Municipal Corporation of Ghaziabad (GMC) official stated the commissioner is treating the matter seriously and will share inquiry findings and actions against responsible officials. The city's extensive drain network is managed by private company WABAG, whose official claimed the chamber was privately owned and the worker was engaged by the household. This incident occurs amidst a backdrop of fatal sewer cleaning incidents. Notably, a sanitation worker died in Noida on July 14, and five workers lost their lives in Nandgram on August 23, 2019. National data revealed 332 sanitation worker deaths between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2026, with seven in Ghaziabad and 13 in Noida.