Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh: Three workers died and another was hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a tank at a sugar mill in Nangal on Friday, police said.
According to Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Vajpayee, the incident occurred when Kapil (40) entered the tank for cleaning and collapsed after inhaling poisonous gas. Saunpal (49) went in to help him but also fell unconscious. Supervisor Muneshwar (45) then attempted to rescue them, but he too was overcome by the gas. Finally, Prabhat entered the tank and suffered the same fate, reported The New Indian Express.
The tank reportedly contained about two feet of rainwater when all four workers lost consciousness.
Emergency services, including fire brigade personnel equipped with safety gear, were called in and pulled the workers out of the tank. Kapil, Saunpal, and Muneshwar were declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Prabhat was admitted to a private hospital, where he is currently being treated.
“He is out of danger,” ASP Vajpayee confirmed.
The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem, and police have launched an investigation into the incident.
District Magistrate Jasjit Kaur has formed a four-member committee to conduct a detailed probe. “The team, led by the sub-divisional magistrate of Najibabad, will investigate what went wrong. Based on the findings, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” she said.
