New Delhi, July 10 -- Two daily wage workers died at a private hospital in west Delhi's Paschim Vihar on Tuesday evening, allegedly after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a sewage treatment plant (STP) tank on the hospital premises, police said on Wednesday. The deceased - Brijesh, 26, and Vikram, 38, both from Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi district - were employed by a private firm that had the annual maintenance contract (AMC) for the STP at Sri Balaji Action Hospital, according to the police. Senior officers said the labourers were provided only blue disposable masks and no other protective or life-saving equipment. The incident occurred around 6.30pm on Tuesday. A case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for death by negligence, and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, has been registered at Paschim Vihar East police station. Deputy commissioner of police (outer) Sachin Sharma said action was taken following the medico-legal reports from the hospital. "The workers were declared dead by the attending doctor. Initial probe revealed that both had lost consciousness while engaged in the maintenance of a carbon filter. The work was being undertaken by the AMC contractor," Sharma said. Though the FIR does not name any suspects, a senior police officer said investigations will cover the hospital administration, the private firm, and its supervisors. "Those found responsible for the negligence that led to the deaths will be prosecuted as per law," the officer said, requesting anonymity. Under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, the manual cleaning of sewers, septic tanks or STPs without protective gear and proper safety measures is strictly prohibited. The law holds employers - including contractors and institutions - criminally liable in case of hazardous cleaning-related deaths, with provisions for imprisonment and fines. Despite the ban, such incidents continue to occur across the country, often due to lax enforcement. Dr Sunil Sumbli, medical superintendent and head of medical services at Action Balaji Hospital, declined to comment on the matter. Attempts to contact Friends Enviro Engineers, the contractor firm in Nehru Market, Badarpur, via phone calls and messages went unanswered. Vikram's cousin, Shatrughan Gautam, 22, also a daily wage worker at the hospital, said he was present when the incident occurred. He alleged that no proper safety equipment was provided to the labourers during the maintenance work. Gautam blamed two sub-contractors - Praveen Mishra and Arvind Mishra - for the deaths. "Brijesh had told them earlier that he was getting headaches from the fumes. Still, they insisted he enter the tank. We don't know if Vikram went in voluntarily," he said. Fire department officials later rescued the men and rushed them to the hospital, where they were declared brought dead....