NHRC notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Haryana, Commissioner of Police and Commissioner, Gurugram Municipal Corporation over the reported death of a man after falling into an open sewer in Gurugram

New Delhi, 24th April, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report on 21st April, 2023, that a man died after falling into an open sewer in Gurugram, Haryana. The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Haryana, the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner, Gurugram Municipal Corporation calling for a detailed report in the matter including action taken against the guilty after a thorough enquiry into the matter within four weeks.

The Commission would also like to know about the compensation, if any, granted to the next of kin of the deceased and the steps taken/ proposed to be taken to ensure that such unfortunate incidents do not recur and precious human lives are not lost in the future. The report must contain the status of the investigation being conducted by the police as well as the department concerned, in the matter.

According to the media report, the Badshahpur Police personnel received information on 20th April, 2023 that a foul smell was coming out from an open sewer manhole near Vatika Chowk area on Sohna Road, and when the police team reached there, they spotted a human body inside the sewer. The composed body of a man was taken out by the Fire Brigade from the ten feet deep sewer. A laptop bag was found with the body, a mobile phone, and a power bank. Reportedly, the documents in the bag suggested that he belonged to Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

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