NHRC Seeks Report On Asphyxiation Death Of Two Workers In Sewage Line In Odisha

Cuttack: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and police on the death of two workers due to asphyxiation inside a sewage tank at CDA Sector 10 in the city last year.

A notice has been served on Housing & Urban Development Secretary, CMC Commissioner and Commissionerate Police, directing them to submit the report within four weeks.

The deceased were identified as Bishnu Naik of Badamba and T Prabhakar of Patapola area of Cuttack and they were engaged in cleaning the sewerage line by the Public Health Engineering Organisation(PHEO) through a service provider. A preliminary investigation revealed that there was gross negligence on the part of the PHEO engineers as far as supervising the work is concerned, which led to the mishap.

Notably, the Orissa High Court has also sought a status report on these deaths and the next hearing is on December 21.

In his affidavit, contractor DK Nayak contended that he was no longer related to the matter as the contract had ended on March 31, 2021, and was not renewed further. However, CMC Deputy Commissioner (Enforcement) Abinash Rout and Sadar Tehsildar Sambit Kumar Gadanayak, in a joint report, clearly mentioned that Nayak was assigned by Watco for the sewerage work from April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021.

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