The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that on 7th June 2026, four workers died while cleaning a septic tank at a jewellery manufacturing unit in Surat district of Gujarat. Reportedly, they entered the tank to clean it without following any safety protocol and became victims of toxic fumes. The workers were taken to the hospital by the rescue team, where doctors declared them dead.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Gujarat Chief Secretary and Surat Commissioner of Police, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the status of the investigation and compensation, if any, paid to the next of kin of the deceased workers.
According to the media report, carried on 8th June 2026, the waste generated during the jewellery cleaning process is collected in the septic tank.
