Chennai Metro Water sends worker into manhole, braveheart who followed in to save him dies

Despite a ban on the inhuman practice of manual scavenging the Chennai Metro Water continues to flout the law. 

In another tragic case, a 30-year-old man lost his life after he entered a sewage tank to rescue his colleague who was stuck inside the tank, in Mogappair East, Chennai. 

Ramachandra (40) first entered the sewage tank, after a while he asked for help to come out of the tank. Das (30), from Namakkal district, who was standing outside, went in to help him but was killed inside the tank. 

"The corporation is working on a new drainage system. Ramachandra had gone inside to make sure that water does not leak into the drainage tank. But suddenly, water gushed into the tank. Das entered the tank to help him. Ramachandra was rescued by the fire personnel. Das died by the time he was brought out,” said Murgesan, inspector of Mogappair East station

The police was informed about the workers being stuck inside the sewage tank by the public.

Ramachandra was rescued and rushed to the Government Kilpauk Medical Hospital. 

The police told The News Minute that both were working on contract basis for Chennai Metro Water.

On March 20, 2017, three manual scavengers were killed in Cuddalore while trying to clean up the drainage system. The workers died of asphyxiation while carrying out repair work in the underground repair system, The New Indian Express reported.