Archive · 30 Jul 2026
47 Sanitation Workers Die Cleaning Sewers in 2025
In 2025, 47 people who clean sewers and septic tanks in India died because the work was very dangerous.
The most deaths happened in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Haryana and Tamil Nadu.
Even though a law from 2013 says this kind of work is illegal, it still happens in many places.
The government started a program in July 2023 to use machines instead of people for this job.
The program gives workers safety gear, training, health insurance, and money help to stop the dangerous work and aim for zero deaths.
47 sanitation workers died in 2025 while cleaning sewers and septic tanks.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the most deaths (10), followed by Haryana (7) and Tamil Nadu (6).
Manual scavenging is banned under the 2013 Act but remains common in many areas.
The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem scheme, launched July 2023, validated 89,915 workers and aims to eliminate manual cleaning.
The scheme provides safety equipment, training, health insurance, and financial support to promote mechanisation.
- Who
- Union government and sanitation workers
- What
- 47 deaths while cleaning sewers and septic tanks
- When
- 2025, scheme launched July 2023
- Where
- India, especially Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu
- Why
- Hazardous manual cleaning conditions despite a 2013 ban
- Deaths
- 47
- Highest State Deaths
- Uttar Pradesh (10)
- Scheme Launch
- July 2023
- Validated Workers
- 89,915
- Banned Practice
- Manual scavenging (2013 Act)