In a tragic incident, 28-year-old sewer worker Samson Warris lost his life during routine work near Firozwala area, Gujranwala, on Saturday. Reports indicate that the incident occurred between 9:30 and 10 a.m. when Samson, deprived of proper safety equipment, entered a manhole. His colleagues, Adnan Masih and Sajjad Masih, sensed trouble when they lost contact with him shortly after, suspecting that a lack of oxygen may have rendered Samson unconscious.

Emergency services were promptly called, and despite a swift response, the rescue team could only recover his lifeless body, which was later taken to the Civil Hospital, Gujranwala.

Mr. Samson, a devoted father of two young children who do not attend school yet, lived on Pasrur (is a city of Sialkot District) road near a Catholic Church in Gujranwala. He was affiliated with the Catholic Church and was a dedicated worker with the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Gujranwala Development Authority (GDA) for the past seven years.

His untimely demise saw an outpouring of grief, with over 250 attendees, including relatives and colleagues, gathering for his funeral service at Fakir Pura Mohalla graveyard, Gujranwala at 3:30 pm.

Shakil Saudagar, a supervisor at Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) GDA, paid tribute, remembering Samson as a kind-hearted individual. Samson’s death has resounded beyond Gujranwala, with colleagues from as far as Hyderabad, Sindh and Karachi expressing their sorrow.

Chaudhry Warris an advocate for sewer workers from Karachi emphasized the importance of Samson’s work and highlighted the risk that sewer workers take every day. The news of his death spread swiftly across social media groups dedicated to their line of work.

The incident has brought to light the perilous conditions under which these workers operate. Chaudhry Warris has urged the government to provide essential safety equipment such as goggles, masks, protective gloves, and safety shoes. There’s a growing concern about the recurring deaths of sewer workers due to a lack of proper tools and technology, especially when dealing with deep manhole blockages.

This tragic event underscores the urgent need for improved working conditions and safety measures for sewer workers in Pakistan.