Three died and one injured during cleaning of sewer on Saturday. (Express Photo by Manoj Kumar) Three died and one injured during cleaning of sewer on Saturday. (Express Photo by Manoj Kumar)

When 32-year-old Rinku, who worked as a housekeeping staff for a private company in Gurgaon, sent his wife and two sons back to their village in Uttar Pradesh last week, little did they imagine that it would be the last time they would see him.

Rinku was among three men who died in Khandsa village on Saturday morning, when they entered a sewer they were cleaning to rescue one of their co-workers who had fainted inside. Police said that while the man they rescued is recuperating in the hospital, the others were declared brought dead.

According to police, the incident took place around 10 am. The men — Rinku, Nanhe, Rajkumar and Binish — were cleaning the sewer at a private auto components company in Khandsa village. While Rajkumar worked in the company’s maintenance department, the other three were part of housekeeping.

Initial investigation by police revealed that Binish got inside the sewer to clean it, but soon, he began feeling suffocated following which he fainted. The other three immediately went inside to rescue him. While they managed to get Binish out of the sewer, they suffocated to death in the process, police said.

“The incident took place in Khandsa village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Sector 37 police station. Investigation is on and a case will be registered accordingly. The bodies will also be sent for post-mortem,” Ravinder Kumar, PRO of Gurgaon Police, said.

He added, “The worker who initially fainted has been admitted to a private hospital and is recovering there.” Police sources said the four men were not wearing the requisite safety gear and equipment. After the incident, the other employees were sent home and police were alerted. The company could not be contacted for a comment.

Anuj, Rinku’s brother-in-law, said, “Only a week ago, he sent his family back to the village where life would be easier for them. Then this happened. His wife is already on her way back, but the children have not been told anything yet. They are too young, just two-and four-years-old. With their mother also away, it would be traumatising to break the news to them right now.”

While Rinku joined the company a year ago, Nanhe had been working with the housekeeping department since he moved to the city from Uttar Pradesh “10-12 years ago”. His nephew, Rakesh Kumar, said, “The job was very demanding; it took a toll on him. But Nanhe had four children to look after, and he would do anything to earn money that would help him bring them up.”

He added, “The company would make him work overtime, but he could not do anything about it. He needed the money.”

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