Manhole death: Mysuru pourakarmikas enraged

NT Correspondent Mysuru, Dec. 20 A pourakarmika (civic worker) who had allegedly fallen sick due to suffocation after he got into a manhole, to clean it in ward number 10 at Periyapatna in Mysuru, died at a hospital after failing to respond to treatment.

The deceased is Madhu (27). Following his death, pourakarmikas, led by former Safai Karmachari Commission chairperson Mr Narayan staged a protest keeping his body near the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mysuru. They alleged that though manual scavenging is banned in the country, Madhu was forced to get into the manhole. They urged the DC to initiate stringent action against those who forced him to do this and also demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to his family.