Three sanitation workers in Kolkata lost their lives at the Bantala Leather Complex after falling into sewage and chemical waste. This heartbreaking event happened just days after the Supreme Court prohibited manual scavenging in major cities. The three men, Farzem Sheikh, Hashi Sheikh, and Suman Sardar, were reportedly cleaning a manhole without the required protective gear when the accident occurred. All three workers were from Murshidabad and were found after a four-hour search by disaster management and fire brigade teams.
This tragic event shows the dangers that sanitation workers continue to face, despite the recent ban designed to stop such incidents. Lack of proper equipment and safety procedures often puts these workers at great risk. In addition, this tragedy is a clear reminder of the continuing difficulties in enforcing safety rules and protecting vulnerable workers who often perform very important, but very dangerous, tasks. This awful incident highlights the need for better enforcement of the ban on manual scavenging and the necessity of providing suitable safety equipment for sanitation workers.
The bodies of the three men were eventually recovered from the manhole. The recovery effort took a long time, emphasizing the tough conditions these workers face every day. Moreover, this incident has caused widespread anger and worries about the safety standards in place, as well as the implementation of the Supreme Court’s recent order. A local community leader stated, “This is a terrible tragedy that could have been avoided,” showcasing the anger and despair many feel about this loss of life. Ultimately, this event emphasizes the ongoing struggle to stop manual scavenging and guarantee safety for sanitation workers who are frequently overlooked and neglected.