The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh; after taking suo motu action of media reports for carrying the bodies of Auraiya road accident victims and the injured migrant labourers in the same vehicle on May 16.
Observation By The National Human Rights Commission
Issuing the notice, the Commission, also observed, โIt is indeed unethical and inhuman on the part of the authorities to put the dead bodies; in the same vehicle in which the injured migrant labourers were asked to travel. The injured persons suffered not only physical injuries; but were also under tremendous trauma from the accident. In that painful condition, they were forced to sit in the same vehicle where the bodies of those killed in the accident were kept. The public servants failed to deal with the situation sensibly and acted in a cruel manner violating right to dignity of the poor labourers.โ
The Fatal Accident In Auraiya
Reportedly, 26 migrant labourers lost life and more than 30 sustained injuries in the fatal accident; when two trucks, one coming from Punjab and the other from Rajasthan collided. The accident happened on the highway in Auraiya district of Uttar Pradesh.
Later, as the photographs of the dead and the injured in the same truck went viral on social media; the authorities sensing the outrage, transferred the dead bodies in the ambulance vehicles at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Report Asked From The State Authorities
Taking note of the instance, the Commission has asked the Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report in the matter; within four weeks. It further stated, the Commission expects a comprehensive report, giving the details of the action taken against the irresponsible officers; and the relief/ rehabilitation to the victim migrant labourers and their families, the state authorities provided. The Commission has also sought the health status of the injured migrant labourers and status of their medical treatment.
