A tragic incident unfolded at the Kolkata Leather Complex in Bantala on Sunday, February 2, 2025, as three sanitation workers lost their lives while cleaning a clogged drain. The victims—Farzem Sheikh, Hashi Sheikh, and Suman Sardar—were residents of Murshidabad, West Bengal.
The unfortunate event took place around 9 a.m. when the workers began cleaning operations. According to reports, a pipe broke, causing them to fall 10 feet into a manhole.
Efforts to rescue them were initiated immediately, but it took personnel from the police, Fire Services, and State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) nearly four and a half hours to retrieve their bodies at 1:30 p.m.
Local sources allege that the workers were hired by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Agency (KMDA), though an official confirmation is awaited. Eyewitnesses and residents have expressed outrage over the apparent lack of safety measures, raising concerns about the well-being of sanitation workers in the city.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Firhad Hakim visited the accident site and addressed the media. He explained that the leather factories’ wastewater discharge had caused gas buildup in the chamber, creating a hazardous environment.
He assured that an investigation would be conducted and emphasized that human lives, especially those of sanitation workers, should not be taken for granted.
Source – thehindu.com
