NHRC takes suo motu cognizance the reported death of five persons while cleaning sewage tanks in Gautam Budh Nagar and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh

NHRC takes suo motu cognizance the reported death of five persons while cleaning sewage tanks in Gautam Budh Nagar and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about the death of five persons while cleaning sewage tanks in two separate incidents in the Gautam Budh Nagar and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh. Reportedly, two of them died while cleaning the sewage tank at a pumping station of the NOIDA authority on 16th August, 2025. The three others died while cleaning a septic tank at a residence in Suketha village on 17th August, 2025.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news reports, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights. Therefore, the Commission has issued notices to the Chairman, NOIDA Authority and the Commissioner of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar in the matter related to the incident in NOIDA, and to the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police on the Sitapur incident, calling for detailed reports within two weeks.

The reports are expected to include the status of the investigation of the cases as well as compensation, if any, paid to the NoK of the deceased persons. The status of medical treatment being provided to the injured boy in the Sitapur incident has also been sought.

According to the media reports, the family members of the victims in the NOIDA incident have alleged that they were not provided any safety equipment by the contractor, although the authorities maintained that the workers were provided with safety equipment.

Reportedly, in the Sitapur incident, a 10-year-old boy was sent into the septic tank to retrieve a stuck polythene bag. However, when he began to suffocate, the owner of the residence pulled the child out and instead attempted himself to remove the polythene but lost consciousness. In order to rescue him, his two neighbours entered into the tank one after the other, but they also succumbed to the toxic fumes.