A tragic incident occurred late Tuesday night in Delhi’s Ashok Vihar area, where four sanitation workers were overcome by toxic gas while cleaning a sewer near an apartment complex. One worker died on the spot, and three others are in critical condition and have been admitted to a hospital. The incident took place around midnight on September 16, 2025, as the workers were clearing debris from a sewer line.
The deceased worker has been identified as 40-year-old Arvind, who was the first to enter the sewer. He succumbed to suffocation caused by toxic gas, likely methane or sulfide, and lost consciousness. His colleagues, attempting to rescue him, were also affected by the gas. Local residents and other workers managed to pull them out and rush them to a nearby hospital, where Arvind was declared dead. The condition of the other three workers, whose identities are yet to be disclosed, remains critical.
Delhi Police have launched an investigation into the incident. Preliminary reports suggest the cleaning was being conducted under a private contractor, and the workers were not provided with adequate safety equipment such as gas masks or oxygen kits. This lack of safety measures is considered a primary reason for recurring incidents of this nature. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) and relevant departments have ordered inquiries, but no official statement has been released yet.
The tragedy has once again highlighted concerns about the safety of sanitation workers. Delhi has witnessed several similar incidents in recent years, with toxic gas claiming lives due to inadequate ventilation and monitoring in sewer systems. Experts point to systemic failures in ensuring worker safety. Demands for compensation for the affected families have emerged, and opposition parties have called for immediate action from the government to address these recurring hazards.
