Fought hard to stay conscious: survivor

Sumit, helped by passersby, was able to get the men out

Twenty-two-year-old Sumit, one of the survivors of the sewer mishap on Sunday at LNJP Hospital, recalled how he fought hard to stay conscious while in the tank to save his three co-workers.

“I brought all of them up one after the other. I climbed up and down at least seven times as I could not stay in there for long. Half way down, I started feeling dizzy and had to go back up to catch my breath,” he said.

‘No equipment’

“I had a mask, which was provided by the hospital, but still the concentration of the toxic gases was too high and made me uncomfortable,” he added.

Unlike those who entered before him, Mr. Sumit had been provided a mask by the hospital and some oxygen cylinders were also arranged for him outside, but he said other equipment such as a safety belt wasn’t provided.

“Rishi Pal was the first one to enter the tank, and he was unclogging the sewer line by removing the filth. Initially, they had sent me to arrange for a ladder as they used ropes to get in. By the time I returned, all three had entered the tank and were not answering. I decided to enter the sewer myself,” he said.

Mr. Sumit recalled that Mr. Pal had mumbled yes when he shouted to check if his co-workers were okay.

“That was for one brief second. I think the next moment he lost consciousness,” he added.

Mr. Sumit first brought Bishan out, helped by passersby who had gathered around and pulled the rope tied to the 22-year-old. Then he brought out Mr. Pal and finally Kiran.

Sumit said Mr. Pal had been cleaning drains for the past 25 years, while he himself had been working in this line for the last three years.