Sewer Deaths in Delhi

Ninety-four individuals have died over the last 15 years while cleaning sewers in Delhi due to toxic gas exposure. Despite a law enacted in 2013 that prohibits manual scavenging, there is a major gap in its enforcement, resulting in only one conviction throughout this period. The law mandates that protective gear be provided to those entering sewers, but in practice, this is rarely followed, leading to continued fatalities among Safai Kamcharis, most of whom belong to the Walmiki community. The lack of social power and resources for these workers typically results in little to no legal recourse for the victims' families, allowing negligent employers to evade accountability.