Three workers died and a fourth fell unconscious from toxic gases while cleaning a septic tank at Ram Krishna Care Hospital in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The incident on March 17, 2026, has sparked outrage over sanitation workers' safety. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai directed strict action against those responsible.
On March 17, 2026, three men died and a fourth fell unconscious after inhaling toxic gases in a nearly 20-feet-deep septic tank at Ram Krishna Care Hospital in Raipur's Pachpedi Naka area, Chhattisgarh, police said. The workers entered without proper safety gear. The deceased were identified as Anmol Manjhi (25), Govind Sendre (35), and Satyam Kumar (22), residents of Simran City; the fourth remains in critical condition. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) Sandeep Patel stated that the first entered on the contractor's instructions and collapsed, followed by the others attempting to rescue him; the fourth, tied to a rope, was pulled out unconscious. Police were filing an FIR on March 18 evening. Families alleged unsafe conditions and undignified handling of bodies, with violent protests outside the hospital. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced legal action for entering sewers without municipal permission. He expressed condolences in a meeting on the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, directing aid to families and strict measures against the guilty. Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah noted the Act's penalties: up to one year imprisonment or Rs 50,000 fine for coercing manual scavenging. Opposition Congress spokesperson Surendra Verma demanded a high-level probe into employment, training, and equipment lapses.
