NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Indore Sewer Deaths, Seeks Report from Authorities

Indore: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of the reported death of two municipal sanitation workers in a sewer chamber in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

According to a statement issued on March 5, 2026, the Commission has sent notices to the Indore Municipal Corporation and the Police Commissioner, asking them to submit a detailed report within two weeks regarding the incident.

The NHRC stated that if the contents of the media report are true, the incident raises a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victims.

The Commission has asked authorities to include the status of the investigation in the report, along with details of compensation, if any, provided to the next of kin (NoK) of the deceased workers.

As per media reports published on March 3, 2026, the two workers entered a sewer chamber on March 2, 2026, to retrieve a portion of a suction tanker pipe that had fallen during a de-watering operation. During the process, they reportedly lost consciousness due to toxic gases inside the chamber.

They were later pulled out and rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

The NHRC has emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident and accountability to ensure the safety and rights of sanitation workers.