Two labourers die during maintenance work at private hospital in Delhi

New Delhi: Two labourers fell unconscious and died while carrying out maintenance work at a private hospital in west Delhi's Paschim Vihar, police said on Wednesday.

The incident happened at Action Balaji Hospital on Tuesday, they said, adding that those killed have been identified as Uttar Pradesh natives, Birjesh (26) and Vikram (30).

According to the preliminary investigation, the two labourers had fallen unconscious while working on the maintenance of a carbon filter system inside the hospital premises, they said.

The maintenance work was reportedly being carried out by a contractor under the annual maintenance contract, the police said.

Upon receiving the information about the incident, a team from Paschim Vihar East police station reached the hospital and found that the two workers had been declared dead by doctors, they said.

The bodies have been shifted to a government hospital for post-mortem, a police officer said, adding that a crime team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team have been called to inspect the spot and collect evidence.

"The role of the contractor and the safety measures taken during the maintenance work are also being examined," a police officer added.

An eye-witness, Shatrughan Gautam, said five people were working at the system inside the hospital.

"Birjesh was working inside the tank, and he suddenly fell unconscious when he was adding something during the filtration process. Another person (Vikram), who was also working there, also fell unconscious when he went inside to save Birjesh," Gautam said.

Gautam also levelled allegations that the supervisor who was present at the site may have forced Vikram to go down the pit and check the condition of the Birjesh.

Following the incident, several people, including the family members of the victim, gathered outside of the hospital on Wednesday and demanded action against the accused.

"Vikaram and Birjesh, both were married and were sole breadwinners of their family," a woman who knew the victims said and added that some poisonous gas inside the tank might have killed them.

"We demand strict action against the hospital and supervisor who forced the workers to go inside the tank without any safety gear. We also demand that proper compensation must be announced for the family members of the deceased," another protester, Kamla Devi, said.

She further said that the family members of the victims are waiting for the bodies, but authorities are not helping them.

According to the latest information, an FIR has been lodged, and the matter is being probed further.

Meanwhile, PTI tried reaching out to the private hospital, but there was no response to calls and texts.

"Further probe is underway to ascertain the exact cause of death and determine any possible negligence, the police said.

Shakur Basti MLA Karnail Singh, who also reached the spot, said that the company in question was given a contract, and the deceased were employed under it. If the responsible parties are found to have not followed safety protocols, then action will be initiated against them, the MLA added.