New Delhi, 3rd July, 2014

The National Human Rights Commission, taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that two inmates of Dabwali Kushth Ashram in District Sirsa, Haryana died after inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a septic tank in the premises on the 25th June, 2014. It has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Haryana calling for a report within four weeks.

According to the media report, the leprosy centre, having no sewer connection, houses 60 members of 16 families and relies on a 10 feet deep tank to collect waste which is cleaned by inmates on regular intervals. When Rajinder opened the cover of the tank to clean it, a gush of poisonous gas knocked him unconscious and he fell into it. Gobind rushed to rescue him but he also met the same fate. Ashram inmates rushed them to General Hospital, Dabwali where doctors declared them brought dead.

The Commission has observed that contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of victims.


*****