New Delhi: The Delhi government on Monday ordered a probe into the deaths of five people caused by asphyxiation after they entered a sewage treatment plant in West Delhi’s Moti Nagar area.

Labour minister Gopal Rai directed the labour commissioner to submit a probe report within three days for ascertaining the further course of action. The five victims were identified as Sarfaraz, Pankaj, Raja, Umesh, and Vishal.

“A tragic incident of death of five workers has taken place while cleaning a sewer tank in DLF Green Apartments in Moti Nagar, Delhi. Minister of labour has desired that a fact-finding inquiry be conducted by the government in the incident so as to decide further course of action against defaulting agencies/firms,” Mr Rai’s secretary, Vivek Kumar Tripathi, said in a written communication to the commissioner.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) too asked the Delhi chief secretary and the police commissioner to submit a detailed report on the five deaths.

The NHRC said that the right to life of five innocent persons has been violated “due to negligence by the authorities and the contractor concerned.”

“The commission has issued notices to Delhi’s chief secretary and police commissioner calling for a detailed report in the matter,” it said in a statement.

“We would also like to know about the action taken against the authorities responsible in the matter along with measures taken for relief and rehabilitation of the kin of the deceased persons,” it added.

The incident took place at around 3.30 pm on Sunday. The victims were rushed to a hospital, where they were declared brought dead by doctors, a senior police officer said.

The police said a case has been registered, adding that it is probing whose negligence it was that led to the incident.