Thirty-one people died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks across India so far in 2026, with compensation fully paid in nine cases according to the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis.
Haryana reported the highest death toll at eight, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi with six each, Uttar Pradesh with three, and Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan with two each.
Across 11 listed years from 2016 to 2026, the commission recorded 773 total deaths, with full compensation disbursed in 677 cases.