A 50-year-old sanitation worker employed by the Faridabad Municipal Corporation died on Thursday afternoon after allegedly inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a sewer line in Sector 19, Gurgaon. The deceased has been identified as Joginder Pahalwan, a resident of Aurangabad village in Palwal. He was a regular employee of the corporation.
This incident comes just two days after two workers died when they fell into a tank at a sewage treatment plant in Jeevan Nagar Part 2 after their safety belt snapped. Police spokesperson Yashpal stated that Joginder entered the sewer after the civic body received a complaint about a blockage. No complaint has been filed in connection with the incident so far.
According to police, soon after entering the sewer while wearing a safety belt, Joginder felt dizzy and lost consciousness. He was pulled out and rushed to Badshah Khan Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His body has been kept in the hospital mortuary for postmortem examination.
Balbir Bal Guher, vice-president of the municipal corporation sanitation workers union, alleged that Joginder was sent into the sewer without adequate safety equipment. “Only a safety belt was provided. There was no oxygen mask or other necessary equipment. If proper safety arrangements had been available, this could have been avoided,” he said.
Balbir added that Joginder is survived by three children and demanded financial assistance and government benefits for the family.
