Sewer deaths: 5 sanitation workers dead in Ghaziabad's Nandgram; compensation announced

At least 5 sanitation workers have died while cleaning a sewer in Ghaziabad's Nandgram area on Thursday, news agency ANI reported. The incident comes amid outrage in various parts over the country over these kinds of deaths.

Ghaziabad: Five sanitation workers died while cleaning a sewer in Nandgram area, today. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/MQluG7uaBW

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 22, 2019

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that financial assistance of Rs 10 lakhs each to the families of sanitation workers died while cleaning a sewer in Nandgram area of Ghaziabad.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced financial assistance Rs 10 lakhs each to the families of the 5 sanitation workers who had died while cleaning a sewer in Nandgram area of Ghaziabad, earlier today. https://t.co/zem2tiKCjr

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 22, 2019

Last month Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale had told Rajya Sabha that 88 sewer workers have died in the last three years across the country but many critics argued that the toll is much higher.

National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), the statutory body that was set up by an act of Parliament for the welfare of the sanitation workers, had revealed in September 2018 that as much as 123 sanitation workers have died while cleaning sewers since January 2017.