A cleaning and maintenance job at
the Delhi Jal Board's Kondli sewage treatment plant went horribly wrong when a
gas leak claimed two lives and left five others affected on Saturday.
While the DJB described the incident
as “unfortunate” and ordered a probe, the incident again brought to the fore
the need for strict enforcement of guidelines and precautionary gear for
workers who have to face hazardous situations.
The incident occurred around 11-30
a.m. when the workers, one employed with the DJB, and three contractual
employees, were trying to remove a sludge plate from a pump installed at the
sewage treatment plant. “As soon as they removed the plate, there was some gas
leakage and they fell unconscious, two other workers who went to rescue them
were also affected by the gas. Unfortunately, two persons lost their lives and
the rest were rushed to the hospital,” said a DJB spokesperson.
“We don't know the details of the
incident, except for the preliminary findings, but the Chief Engineer in charge
of the plant has been asked to submit a detailed account in seven days. The
incident is, however, shocking because till date there has never been an
accident of this nature at this step of treatment exercise. We don't know where
the gas came from, it could be the severe heat that the city is facing that
resulted in some gas production,” the spokesperson said.
The deceased have been identified as
45-year-old Moolchand and 42-year-old Daleep. The workers who fell unconscious
were rushed to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in East Delhi. They have been
identified as Jitender (28), Naresh (42), Jagdish (49), Dharampal (49) and Bhim
Singh (55).
“We will issue the compensation
amount of Rs.1 lakh to the deceased by Monday and the next of kin will be
offered a job on compassionate grounds. As for the contractual workers, we will
ask the contractor for details and also investigate if there was any negligence
on the contractor's part,” said a senior DJB official.
A member of the worker's union said
the affected employees were not wearing gas masks and there seems to be a
violation of laid down rules for safety. Delhi Police officials said inquest
proceedings have been initiated.
· Workers were removing sludge plate near sewage plant;
some gas leaked and they fell unconscious
· Highlights need for strict enforcement of guidelines,
precautionary gear at hazardous sites
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