Sewer Deaths in India: 101 Workers Lost in 2026, One Every 45 Hours, Activists Allege Government Silence

The Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) reports that 101 sanitation workers have died cleaning sewers and septic tanks in India in the first 188 days of 2026, warning of a sharp rise in fatalities despite legal prohibitions and court orders. Delhi-NCR accounted for 12 deaths, with 16 states affected. SKA notes that 121 workers died in all of 2025, indicating a significant increase. The organization criticizes governments for inaction and accuses the Union government of denying manual scavenging deaths in Parliament. Bezwada Wilson urges Prime Minister Modi to stop sewer and septic tank deaths immediately.