NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of two persons and injuries to two others while cleaning a septic tank in Nandigram Block of Vekutia village in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal

Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 20th February, 2025

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of two persons and injuries to two others while cleaning a septic tank in Nandigram Block of Vekutia village in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal

Issues notices to the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, Purba Medinipur calling for a detailed report within two weeks

The report is expected to include the status of the investigation as well as compensation, if any paid to the next of kin of the deceased persons

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of the media report that two persons died and two others of the same family got injured after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a septic tank in Nandigram Block of Vekutia village in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victims. Therefore, it has issued notices to the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal calling for a detailed report within two weeks.

The report is expected to include the status of the investigation of the cases as well as compensation, if any paid to the next of kin of the deceased persons.

According to the media report, carried on 16th February, 2025, the person who first entered the septic tank to clean it cried for help after inhaling poisonous gas. Hearing his cries, three of his family members rushed to rescue him but they also inhaled the toxic gas and lost consciousness. All four were rushed to the hospital but only two of them survived.

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