Working without safety gear,two die cleaning sewer in VIP area

While the police did not register any case in the absence of any complaint,the Lucknow Municipal Corporation disowned responsibility,saying the deceased were employees of a contractor they had hired for the job.

Asgar Ali,a resident of Bazarkhala and Mahboob Ali,a resident of Chowk area — both 20 — fell unconscious the moment they went inside the manhole. Another labourer,Ana Husain,raised an alarm. An earth mover was summoned,which widened the opening and they were taken out. They were taken to the Trauma Centre,where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

“The incident has been recorded,but no FIR has been lodged as there was no complaint,” said K N Mishra,SHO of Hazratganj.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh said both men were employees of K K Tiwari,whom the corporation had given a contract to clean major drains of that area. He said it was the responsibility of the contractor to provide safety equipment to workers.

“He gave Rs 25,000 each to the families,” Singh said.

The contractor’s cellphone was switched off.

Lucknow Municipal Corporation Junior Engineer Kishori Lal said it was a usual practice for labourers to clean drains without wearing masks.