Three sanitation workers die after inhaling toxic gas in Raipur hospital septic tank

Three sanitation workers died late Tuesday evening after apparently inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a septic tank at Ram Krishna Care Hospital in the Pachpedi Naka area of Raipur, police and local sources said. The men reportedly entered the tank without protective safety gear, and authorities faced difficulties retrieving their bodies due to hazardous conditions inside the confined space. A police official said, “Prima facie, it appears they died after inhaling poisonous gas,” and added that a detailed investigation is underway.

The incident has sparked outrage among the workers’ relatives, who accused the hospital management and the contracted agency of negligence. Protesters gathered outside the hospital, demanding accountability and stringent action against those responsible for the lapse in safety protocols. Hospital officials have yet to issue a detailed statement, while local authorities have initiated an inquiry to determine whether proper procedures and safety measures were followed.

Experts note that such fatalities are part of a long-standing national issue. Official records indicate that between 2017 and 2023 , at least 377 sanitation workers died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks across India, with over 90% of the victims lacking proper protective equipment . In 2019 alone, 116 deaths were recorded, and preliminary figures for 2024 show 52 deaths . Over the last decade, more than 600 people have died nationwide performing similar hazardous tasks, highlighting persistent safety gaps despite legal prohibitions on manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning.

Authorities and social activists continue to call for stricter enforcement of safety norms, regular audits, and comprehensive training to prevent such tragedies in the future.