Families of three labourers who died while cleaning septic tank in Ariyalur refuse to accept bodies

Families of the three labourers, who suffocated to death on October 2 after entering a septic tank in a house under construction at Sendurai in Ariyalur district, have refused to receive the bodies after an autopsy and demanded ₹30 lakh as compensation for each victims from the State government.

The CPI(M), Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF), and the Annihilation of Hazardous Sewerage Killings, a people science movement, have extended their support to the families. The deceased were identified as K. Bhaskar, 42, of Srinivasapuram in Tiruvarur district; K. Dhinakaran, 60, of Alivalam village in Tiruvarur district, and K. Ramachandran, 45, of Nakkambadi village in Ariyalur district.

Dhinakaran who entered the septic tank first to remove wooden planks/supporting framework fixed inside fell unconscious and died. Bhaskar and Ramachandran who went to his rescue, one after another, also died.

The Sendurai police arrested the building owner M. Subramanian of Sendurai. He was remanded in judicial custody. The autopsy was conducted at the Government Hospital, Ariyalur, but the victims’ families have refused to receive the bodies, said police and CPI(M) sources. The party, along with the TNUEF, has been holding talks with officials demanding ₹30 lakh as compensation for the families. However, no headway has been made.

“The three labourers hail from a poor background and hence the State government should provide each family a sum Rs. 30 lakh as compensation”, said Udhayan, State organiser of the Annihilation of Hazardous Sewerage Killings-Sarinigar.

Mr. Udhayan said he visited Ariyalur on Saturday and Sunday and interacted with the family members of the victims. Citing a Supreme Court judgment of 2023, Mr. Udhayan said the compensation for sewer deaths shall be Rs. 30 lakhs and shall be paid by the Union, Union Territory or the State government as the case may be.

Their other demands include government jobs for one of the family members of the labourers, for the government to bear the educational expense for the labourers’ children, and grant either a free house or a house site patta to the three families. Mr. Udhayan said a fact finding team would soon be sent to Ariyalur, and a report would be submitted to the State government.

A group of CPI(M) and TNUEF members, who allegedly tried to stage a protest at the Ariyalur Collectorate, on Monday were detained, the police said.