The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report dated 12th July 2026 regarding the drowning deaths of three children in an 'Ash Dyke Lagoon' constructed by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in the Kanti area of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar. The lagoon is used for storing huge amounts of coal ash.
The Commission observed that the incident raises serious issues of human rights violations if the report is true. Consequently, it has issued formal notices to two parties: the Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC in Delhi and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Both have been called upon to submit a detailed report on the matter within a strict deadline of two weeks.
The media report that prompted the action alleged critical safety lapses at the site, including the absence of installed warning boards to alert the public of the danger. Furthermore, it reported that no security personnel were deployed to restrict the entry of villagers, who frequently access the ponds to collect coal residue for sale in the market.