Contractor arrested after 3 workers die in Kolkata Leather Complex

Three daily wage laborers died while cleaning an underground sewage line at the Kolkata Leather Complex on Monday. The police arrested contractor Alimuddin Sheikh, who was responsible for hiring workers for such tasks, and presented him before the Baruipur court. The incident occurred when one worker entered a manhole for cleaning and collapsed, prompting two others to go in for a rescue, leading to their deaths. The deceased have been identified as Suman Sardar, Farjam Sheikh, and Sheikh Hasibur.

Following the tragedy, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim visited the site and ordered an investigation. A case was registered at the Bantala police station. Addressing the media, Mayor Hakim stated that the workers died due to exposure to toxic chemical waste from tanneries, which should have been processed at a waste treatment plant. He also emphasized that the police would investigate why manual entry was used instead of mechanical equipment like pumps.

The incident took place just four days after the Supreme Court imposed a ban on manual scavenging and manual sewer cleaning in major cities, including Kolkata. The rescue operation involved divers equipped with specialized gear retrieving the bodies from the 10-feet-deep manhole. The deaths have raised concerns over adherence to safety protocols in hazardous cleaning operations, especially in industrial zones.

The Kolkata Leather Complex, spread over 1,150 acres, is Asia’s largest leather processing hub, hosting nearly 500 tanneries and leather goods manufacturers. Authorities are now facing scrutiny over enforcement of labor safety norms, with officials under pressure to ensure stricter compliance with court directives on hazardous waste management and worker protection.