Tamil Nadu recorded the third highest number of deaths linked to septic tank and sewer cleaning in India over the last five years, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale informed Parliament on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.
As reported in The Hindu, the minister was responding to a question raised by Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar, who sought state-wise details of deaths reported during the cleaning of sewer lines and septic tanks over the past five years, along with information on the agencies or officials who had engaged workers for such manual cleaning operations.
Replying in the Lok Sabha, Athawale stated that 332 people had died across India while cleaning septic tanks during the last five years.
He said that Maharashtra recorded the highest number of such deaths with 58, followed by Haryana with 47, while Tamil Nadu reported 38 deaths, placing it third in the country.
Athawale further stated that, according to the state-wise data on deaths during septic tank cleaning operations, Tamil Nadu ranked among the worst-affected states in the country.
He reportedly urged the Tamil Nadu government to take effective measures to eliminate the continuing loss of life during septic tank cleaning activities.
The minister also indicated that the data had been compiled based on deaths reported by the states and Union Territories in connection with septic tank and sewer cleaning operations.
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