After cleaner’s death in Delhi sewer, internet helps raise Rs 32 lakhs, gifts cycle to son

Heartbreaking news of death of Anil, a sanitation worker who made a living through manual scavenging and cleaning septic tanks broke on Friday. The photo of his son standing over his body and crying because the family had no money to even cremate the deceased had been doing rounds on the internet since then and it's when the online world decided to step up and help. 

The crowdfunding page on ketto.org, appealed the users to donate and within just few days, people have donated around Rs 32 lakh, which is way more than the goal fund. 

According to some media reports, Anil had promised a bicycle to gift a bicycle to his son and to fulfil his demand, the organisation has sent bicycle and many gifts to the kids so bring back their lost smile. 

Anil, 37, while climbing down the sewer, slipped and the rope around his waist broke, following which he fell in the 20-feet deep sewer. 

He is survived by his wife Rani and three children – aged 11 years, 7 years and 3 years. 

As the reports emerged that the family of the worker could not even afford to cremate him, Twitter users launched a crowdfunding campaign to help his wife and three children. 

Police said Anil was hired by a person named Satbir Kala to clean the sewer line as water was stagnant in his building. 

During the investigation, it was learnt that Anil was not given any protective gear and even the rope was not strong enough to bear the tension, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Anto Alphonse said on Sunday. 

Anil was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, police said. 

A case was registered in this connection, the police said, adding Satbir was arrested.

The incident comes just a week after five persons died due to asphyxiation when they entered a sewage treatment plant in Moti Nagar area in the national capital.