Every year several sanitary workers die after inhaling toxic gases in manholes and other such places, while working, without protective gears, to clean choked manholes and drains. The most recent such tragedy occurred in Sanghar where two sanitary workers died while trying to open a choked manhole on a road. Three sanitary workers entered the manhole, and two of them died while the third fell unconscious after they inhaled carbon monoxide gas. We don’t know whether it is mandatory for municipal bodies to equip sanitary workers with protective gears. They accused the authorities of forcing them to enter the manhole unprotected, and the municipal workers’ union alleged that the workers died due to neglect on the part of the relevant officials.

Source: The Express Tribune October 29, 2020 03:56 UTC