3 workers die while cleaning septic tank at Raipur hospital

RAIPUR: Three sanitation workers died after allegedly inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a septic tank at a private hospital in Raipur on Tuesday night, triggering outrage among relatives who accused the management and contractor of sending them in without safety gear. Amid rising anger, the hospital management announced compensation of Rs 30 lakh each to the families of the deceased, a senior member of the management told TOI. The compensation also includes Rs 20,000 per month for the education of the victims’ children and free treatment for an immediate family member in case of illness. The incident took place at a major private hospital near Pachpedi Naka. The workers were identified as Govind Sendre, Anmol Majhi and Satyam Kumar, all residents of the Simran City area.

According to preliminary accounts, the men had been engaged in cleaning work inside the hospital’s sewage treatment or septic tank area when one of them reportedly collapsed after entering the chamber around 7.30 pm on Tuesday. The others went in one after another to rescue him, but they too were overcome by the gas. The deaths sparked chaotic scenes outside the hospital, where grieving relatives gathered in large numbers, alleging gross negligence and demanding strict action against those responsible.

Family members claimed the workers were made to enter the tank without oxygen masks, gas detectors or other mandatory safety equipment. Some alleged that trained personnel were not deployed and that ordinary labourers were used for the hazardous task to cut costs. Protests and chaos continued on the hospital premises till late at night, with heavy police presence at the spot. Hospital authorities, however, said the maintenance work had been outsourced to an external contractor and that responsibility for deployment, supervision and compliance with safety norms lay with the agency concerned.

A member of the hospital management said the work had been contracted out as before, and that the contractor’s responsibility was clearly mentioned in the agreement. In an official statement issued late in the evening, the hospital said three workers engaged in essential maintenance activities at its sewage treatment plant had faced a “critical emergency” during routine operations. The management said emergency response teams were deployed immediately and that it was fully cooperating with police and other authorities. It also said an internal inquiry had been initiated. Police and district authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the deaths and the allegations of negligence. Relatives of the victims have demanded criminal action against those found responsible.