Pune: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has taken cognisance of the deaths of two people inside an underground cable chamber in Nigdi and issued notices to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the police commissioner and the assistant commissioner of social welfare, seeking details of the incident and action taken on the allegations.The notices were issued on Thursday, a day after the two men died after entering the chamber late on Wednesday. The incident occurred nearly a year after three contractual workers died of suspected suffocation inside the same chamber on Aug 15, 2025.In its notice, the commission said it had decided to investigate the matter.The authorities concerned have been told to submit facts and information regarding the incident and action taken on the allegations within 15 days of receiving the notice.“Please take notice that in case the commission does not receive a reply from you within the stipulated time, the Commission may exercise the powers of civil courts conferred on it under Article 338 of the Constitution of India and issue summons for your appearance in person or by a representative before the commission,” director G Sunil Kumar Babu stated in the notice.The commission took cognisance of the matter following a complaint lodged by Sagar Charan, national legal adviser of the Akhil Bharatiya Safai Mazdoor Sangh. He highlighted that both BSNL and PCMC had been issued notices over the inherent danger associated with the chamber following last year’s incident, but allegedly failed to take necessary precautions to make the chamber inaccessible or safe for entry.“The alleged failure to prematurely secure, close or otherwise make the duct safe after the earlier incident, if established upon inquiry, would constitute a grave dereliction of duty owed by the authorities concerned to protect human life,” Charan wrote in his letter to the NCSC.Meanwhile, the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK) also took cognisance of the matter and asked district collector Jitendra Dudi to get the incident investigated and initiate action against those responsible. Commission secretary Rahul Kashyap also sought details of the FIR registered in the matter.The commission has further asked the collector to ensure that the victims’ next of kin receive insurance payments of Rs 10 lakh, compensation of Rs 30 lakh as per the applicable norms, and rehabilitation for family members by the state govt in accordance with Supreme Court directions.Not just safety gear, responsibility for workers’ safety also missing: ActivistsActivists and residents have criticised the authorities over the deaths, pointing out that a similar incident at the same spot claimed three lives last year. They said that in both incidents, which occurred on public holidays, the deceased were allegedly found without the safety gear required to enter the chamber.They also questioned the practice of sending workers into the chamber late at night and on holidays. The BSNL chamber ducts were laid around 15 to 20 years ago and are rarely accessed, except during major cable network faults or for the installation of optical line termination equipment (OLTE).“Since the ducts remain closed for long periods, rainwater enters them during the monsoon, leading to the accumulation of mud and drainage-like waste. This can result in the generation of toxic gases that pose a serious risk to anyone entering the chamber,” said Kashinath Nakhate of Kashtakari Sangharsh Mahasangh.He added that those sent to work inside the chamber should have been provided with necessary safety gear, including masks and gloves.Nakhate also questioned how workers were allowed to carry out work at the site on a public holiday and at midnight. He demanded that a case of culpable homicide be registered against officials responsible for the workers’ safety.Sagar Charan, national legal adviser to the Akhil Bharatiya Safai Mazdoor Sangh, said that although the chamber belonged to BSNL, it was located within the jurisdiction of PCMC, and both agencies had a responsibility to take precautionary measures.“However, both failed to take responsibility, and this led to another tragedy at the same spot, in the same manner,” he said.
