NHRC Probes Fatal Accidents in Odisha, Haryana, and Maharashtra

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched an investigation following media reports of accidents that resulted in the deaths of children and workers in three Indian states. On April 15, in Gajapati district, Odisha, two young girls tragically lost their lives when an iron gate at a government primary school collapsed on them as they played near the entrance. An official NHRC statement on Friday expressed concern regarding potential human rights violations, prompting it to issue notices to the Chief Secretary and Superintendent of Police in Odisha, demanding a comprehensive report within two weeks.

Similarly, another devastating incident occurred in Haryana's Firozpur Jhirka area, where two sanitation workers succumbed to toxic gases while cleaning a sewer line. The NHRC criticized the contractor, hired by the state's Public Health Engineering Department, for deploying workers without protective gear. The Commission is deeply concerned about the absence of safety measures that resulted in these fatalities.

In Maharashtra, a separate tragedy unfolded as four children drowned in a 15-feet-deep pit filled with wastewater. This pit was situated near an ongoing drain construction site by the local civic body in Islampura, Nanded district. The Commission's response underscores its commitment to addressing human rights issues and seeking accountability from state authorities to prevent such disasters in future public projects. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)