A 55-year-old daily wage labourer, Vinod Kumar, lost his life on Sunday after inhaling toxic gases inside a domestic septic tank in East Delhi's New Ashok Nagar, sent in without any safety equipment by a private contractor and the building's owner. A second worker, 34-year-old Dharmender Kumar, was pulled out unconscious and remains in critical condition at Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital.
What happened
The incident took place at a four-storey residential building in New Ashok Nagar, where the building owner, identified in police records as Deepak, had hired contractor Anil Kumar to clean the domestic septic tank. Contractor Anil, in turn, engaged Vinod Kumar and Dharmender Kumar, both residents of Sector-16, Noida, for the task.
According to Delhi Police, the workers were asked to enter the tank approximately eight feet deep without oxygen cylinders, masks, harnesses, or gas detectors. Within minutes of entering the confined space, both workers allegedly inhaled poisonous gases and collapsed. Bystanders and the contractor used ropes and hooks to pull the two men out before rushing them to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital. Vinod was declared dead on arrival. Dharmender Kumar, who had reportedly entered the tank to rescue Vinod, remains under treatment in critical condition.
The victim
Vinod Kumar was a daily wage labourer who survived on odd jobs, earning barely Rs 100 to Rs 200 a day. He is survived by his wife — who was financially dependent on him — and three married children: two sons and a daughter. Family members told PTI that Vinod was hesitant to enter the septic tank, aware of the absence of any protective gear, but was allegedly pressured by the contractor and the building owner, who assured him the job would take only minutes. Moments later, those nearby reportedly heard cries for help.
Arrests and charges
Delhi Police arrested building owner Deepak and contractor Anil Kumar following a preliminary investigation that confirmed serious safety violations. A case has been registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with relevant provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Authorities are recording statements from witnesses, family members, and co-workers as the probe continues.
A systemic crisis
Manual scavenging — the hazardous manual cleaning of sewers, septic tanks, and manholes has been prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Despite this, the practice continues, disproportionately claiming the lives of daily wage labourers and workers from marginalised communities. Parliament was informed that over 400 deaths occurred in such incidents between 2018 and 2023 alone, with the actual numbers widely believed to be higher due to under-reporting.
Rights groups and NGOs have repeatedly demanded stricter enforcement, mandatory use of mechanised equipment, and meaningful accountability for contractors and building owners who flout the law. The deaths continue, they say, because the cost of hiring unprotected labour remains far lower than the cost of proper mechanised cleaning, and prosecutions remain rare.
What the law says
Under Section 7 of the Manual Scavenging Act, 2013, no person, local authority, or agency may engage or employ any individual — directly or indirectly — for the hazardous manual cleaning of a sewer or septic tank. Violations can attract imprisonment and fines. The Supreme Court of India has also issued directions requiring states to ensure compliance and provide rehabilitation to affected families. In this case, the accused faces charges of culpable homicide alongside the Act's provisions.