Centre Reports Nearly 500 Sewer And Septic Tank Cleaning Deaths Across India Since 2019

Nearly 500 sanitation workers have died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks across India since the beginning of 2019, according to data presented by the Centre in the Lok Sabha. The government informed Parliament that 498 workers lost their lives between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2026. However, despite the fatalities, none of the deaths was officially recorded as being caused by manual scavenging, a practice that remains prohibited under Indian law.

The figures were shared by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale in a written reply to a question raised by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. The data provides a year-wise account of deaths linked to sewer and septic-tank cleaning operations, highlighting the continued risks faced by sanitation workers despite repeated efforts to mechanise hazardous cleaning work and strengthen workplace safety.

According to the government, 2019 recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 132 sanitation workers dying during sewer and septic-tank cleaning. The number fell to 34 in 2020, followed by 62 deaths in 2021. Another 88 workers lost their lives in 2022, while 65 deaths were reported in 2023. The figures declined further to 54 in 2024 and 47 in 2025. In the first six months of 2026 alone, 16 workers died, taking the cumulative toll over the seven-and-a-half-year period to 498.

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The government's response also noted that none of these deaths was officially classified as resulting from manual scavenging. The distinction is significant because manual scavenging, which involves manually handling human excreta, is prohibited under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Sewer and septic-tank cleaning, however, may be carried out using protective equipment and mechanised methods under prescribed safety standards. Fatal accidents often occur when workers enter confined spaces without adequate safety gear or when established protocols are not followed.

Deaths of sanitation workers have remained a matter of concern for courts, policymakers and rights groups, which have repeatedly called for complete mechanisation of sewer cleaning and strict enforcement of occupational safety norms. The Supreme Court has, on multiple occasions, directed authorities to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning practices, provide compensation to the families of workers who die while cleaning sewers, and ensure accountability where safety violations occur. Civil society organisations have also argued that many hazardous sewer-cleaning deaths continue to reflect systemic failures in implementing existing laws and safety guidelines.

The latest data presented in Parliament is likely to renew scrutiny of sanitation practices and worker safety across the country. While the annual number of fatalities has generally declined since 2019, the deaths underscore the continuing dangers faced by sanitation workers engaged in sewer and septic-tank cleaning. The figures also highlight the ongoing debate over how such deaths are classified, with activists seeking greater recognition of hazardous sanitation work and stronger measures to prevent avoidable fatalities through mechanisation, training, protective equipment and strict compliance with safety regulations.

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