Insaaf Times Desk

In Ahmedabad’s Bopal area, a tragic incident occurred on September 5 when two Dalit youths died of asphyxiation inside a sewer manhole. The victims have been identified as 20-year-old Vikas Lalbahadur Kori and 21-year-old Kanhaiyalal Khushiram Kori, both from Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh.

The police registered an FIR at Bopal Police Station following a complaint by Vikas’s father, Lalbahadur Chhotalal Kori. Initially, only contractor Mukeshkumar Someshwar Adalat Thakur was named as an accused, but subsequent investigations have also named site contractor Saurabh Panchal and site engineer Jaynil.

According to police, the youths were called to clean a sewer line near ‘The Garden Bungalows.’ The contractor allegedly instructed them to enter the manhole without any safety equipment. As soon as Vikas descended, he lost consciousness due to toxic gases. Kanhaiyalal went in to rescue him but also fell unconscious. Bystanders called the fire brigade, which rescued both youths. They were taken to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared Kanhaiyalal dead at 3:40 PM and Vikas at 10:40 PM.

The police have registered a case against all three accused under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 336 (endangering life or personal safety) of the Indian Penal Code. Additionally, Sections 7 and 9 of the Employment Prohibition and Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers Act and Section 3(2)(v) of the Atrocities Act have also been invoked.

Parshottam Vaghela of the NGO Human Dignity said, “The law is clear that all individuals responsible for the deaths of workers, including government officials, will be held accountable.”

This incident raises serious concerns about the safety of workers engaged in manhole and sewer work. Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities expect the perpetrators to face strict punishment.