NHRC notices to the Chief Secretary and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi over the reported incident of a father and son falling in an open sewer at Rohini

New Delhi, 3rd January, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a father and son fell in an open sewer at Rohini Sector-31 in Delhi about two days back. While the father was pulled out and admitted to a hospital, the search for the missing eight-year-old child was on by the fire-brigade team. Reportedly, the incident happened as the lid of the sewer was missing, which was perhaps stolen by the drug addicts.

The Commission has issued the notices to the Chief Secretary and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling for a detailed report in the matter including the present status of the rescue operation, the status of the investigation by the police, medical treatment of the rescued father and compensation if any, granted to the aggrieved family. The Commission would also like to know about the action taken against the delinquent officers, responsible for the tragic incident.

The Commission has observed that the police and local civic authorities need to be extra careful and vigilant to check that anti-social elements do not steal manhole lids and grills in the area. Hence, it would like to know from both authorities about the steps taken or proposed to be taken to address the issue.

The Commission has noted that in a similar kind of incident in Sector-16, Rohini in Delhi on 29th March, 2022 four persons died after falling into the sewer line. It had taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and called for the reports from the authorities; the matter is under its consideration.

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