Delhi sewer deaths: HC seeks response of police, DDA on suo motu PIL

New Delhi, Sep 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the response of the Delhi Police and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated on media reports about the death of two persons inside a city drain.

As per the reports of the September 9 incident, a man inhaled toxic gases inside a sewer in the Mundka area of west Delhi while cleaning it and the other person had tried to rescue him.

Issuing notice to the respondents and also to National Commission for Safai Karamchaaris, a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad posted the matter for further hearing on November 9.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB), during the course of the hearing, submitted that the area of the incident comes under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and even the sweeper was an employee of the DDA.

Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, who was appointed as amicus curiae in the matter, said the court was seized of two similar matters including a PIL.

As per news reports, on September 9, Rohit Chandiliya, 32, and Ashok Kumar, 30, died in Mundka area.

Chandiliya, a sweeper at DDA flats, was cleaning a drain in order to fix a blockage but fell unconscious after inhaling the toxic gases inside. Kumar, a security guard in the area, entered the pit in a bid to save him. However, he also felt dizzy and was trapped inside too. Though they were pulled out from the drain and rushed to a hospital with the help of police and fire officials, who reached the spot, both were declared dead by the doctors.

Source: IANS