Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 16th July 2026

NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a man after inhaling toxic gases in a sewer line during a cleaning operation carried out by the NOIDA Authority in the Gautam Budh Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh

Issues notices to the Chairman, NOIDA Authority and the Commissioner of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that on 14th July 2026, a 28-year-old sanitation worker died after inhaling toxic gases in a sewer line during a cleaning operation carried out by the NOIDA Authority in Sector-93 of NOIDA, Gautam Budh Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. Reportedly, the victim’s family alleged that sanitation workers were sent down into the sewer without adequate safety equipment.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights.Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chairman, NOIDA Authority and the Commissioner of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

According to the media report, carried on 15th July 2026, the victim was pulled out by the police and the Fire Brigade personnel and rushed to the hospital, where he died during the course of treatment.

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