Family fights for justice as son dies in septic tank, says ‘no authorities visited, no action taken’

Family fights for justice as son dies in septic tank, says ‘no authorities visited, no action taken’Mahendra Lohar, holding a photo of Suraj Lohar, as his young son looks on. Photo: Nikita Jain/Maktoob

Mahendra Lohar is sitting in a makeshift tent, while a small fire burns in between to keep him and his family warm.

Lohar, 48, lost his young son in November 2024 in a sewer-related accident. However, to this day, he and his family are still waiting for justice.

In Delhi, families are still reeling from the loss of their loved ones in sewer-related accidents, raising questions about the Delhi government’s claims of working to end the practice of manual scavenging in the city.

Suraj Lohar, 24, was working as a security guard at the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in Delhi’s Karkardooma, his father Mahendra told Maktoob. However, over time, his bosses told him to start going down septic tanks.

“We are a poor family who migrated from Rajasthan for a better life. When Suraj saw an opportunity to earn a bit of money, he took it,” the grieving father said.

The family belongs to the Dalit community and migrated to Delhi years ago in search of a better life.

It was on 4 November 2024 that Mahendra found Suraj’s dead body deep inside a septic tank at the DJB plant. “He used to come home by 6 pm, but that day, he was an hour late. My brother and I went to the plant to check on him, but the gates were locked. We jumped over and went inside. I had a bad feeling, so I started looking at the underground tanks, and there he was—12 feet down in a septic tank,” Mahendra recalled.

He also said that when he found Suraj, white foam was coming out of his mouth. “We took him to a government hospital, and they declared him dead. They didn’t even do anything to help him,” he added.

A degrading practice, manual scavenging requires a person to manually clean, carry, dispose of, or otherwise handle human excreta in an insanitary latrine, an open drain or sewer, a septic tank, or a pit.

Though the practice was banned in India, it is still widespread, with people forced into it due to rigid caste rules and a lack of other livelihood options.

They are hired by local corporations and private contractors to clean sewers and drains blocked by mud and plastic.

The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, bars hazardous cleaning, but there is no specific ban on manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks as long as protective gear is provided. The law specifies 44 types of protective gear, including breath masks, gas monitors, and full-body wader suits.

Suraj, too, was hired by a private contractor on behalf of the DJB.

Suraj Lohar’s family living in their makeshift tent in Delhi. Photo: Nikita Jain/Maktoob

The DJB is the primary authority responsible for the capital’s sewage system and is governed by the Delhi government, in this case, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Sunita Lohar, a frail-looking woman, sits beside her husband Mahendra, tears continuously streaming down her face. Suraj’s mother still cannot believe they have lost their son. Cursing the system, she said, “I lost my son, and none of these people are doing anything. From the police to the Jal Board officials, no one has taken any action. My son died, and his accused roam free.”

Mahendra also said that while Suraj was forced to become a sanitation worker, he had questioned the authorities about it but was threatened with dismissal. Fearing job loss, Suraj continued working.

The family has accused five men, including Delhi Jal Board officials and private contractors, of being responsible for the incident. “He was paid ₹8,000, which we later found out was lower than what he was supposed to get—they used to take cuts from his salary,” Sunita alleged.

Historically from a family of ironworkers, the Lohar family hails from Rajasthan. Traditionally, they made iron tools and materials, but they were forced to migrate to Delhi years ago in search of a stable livelihood.

Their son Suraj joined the Delhi Jal Board at the age of 20. Since then, he had worked there diligently. The family currently lives in a makeshift tent in the Karkardooma JJ clusters, located opposite the district court.

Suraj’s wife, Komal, had given birth to their second son just 15 days before his death. She was pregnant at the time of his passing.

“We can’t describe how difficult life has become for us. We had to take out a loan for the delivery. We literally had to borrow ₹10 from here and there,” Sunita added, as Komal looked on with tears in her eyes.

Suraj Lohar’s wife. Photo: Nikita Jain/Maktoob

Since Suraj’s death, the five men initially arrested by the police have been released, and no further investigation or interrogation has taken place, according to the family.

According to a report by The Indian Express, over the past 15 years, a total of 94 people have died while cleaning sewers in Delhi.

However, out of the 75 deaths for which records are available, only one case has resulted in justice for the victims, in the form of a conviction in court, according to an RTI filed by the newspaper.

Mahendra and Sunita say that no officials have visited them, and they have received no compensation from the government.

“It’s not even about the money. We are going to fight for justice for my son. No amount of money they give us will shut us up,” Mahendra added.

Suraj has left behind his parents, a wife, and two children—aged 2 years and 15 days.

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