Rohtak: A tragic incident unfolded in the Majra village of Rohtak, Haryana, on Wednesday, May 13, where a father and his two sons lost their lives after falling into a clogged sewer outside their home. The chain of events began when the youngest son accidentally fell in while trying to open the manhole lid, prompting his father and brother to jump in after him, but none of them made it out alive.
The victims have been identified as Mahabir Singh, a retired Army jawan, and his sons Laxman and Deepak, both of whom were working in private jobs. According to the family, all three likely died from toxic gas inhalation in the sewer. The third son, Rajkumar, was about to go in to help but was stopped and told to call the police.
Tragic Chain Reaction Caught in Minutes
Santosh Devi, the mother of the deceased, told Dainik Bhaskar, “The drain outside our house was blocked. Laxman went to open the sewer lid and fell in. Mahabir saw this and climbed in to save him, but didn’t come out. Deepak also went in but couldn’t rescue them. All three died."
According to Fireman Rohtas, their team received a call at 7:30 AM. Initially, two rescue workers were sent into the manhole but faced breathing difficulties. Another team member equipped with an oxygen cylinder finally managed to pull out the three bodies, but all were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
Villagers Allege Negligence
Locals have blamed civic negligence for the tragedy. “The sewer has been clogged for a long time. Complaints to local councilors have gone unanswered,” said villager Manjeet, as quoted by Dainik Bhaskar. He demanded action against sewer contractor Anurag, holding him responsible for not maintaining the system.
DSP Ravi Khundiya said, “Action under Section 174 has been initiated. We are awaiting a formal complaint from the family and will act accordingly.”
The village remains in mourning as the family prepares for the funerals of three of its members.