Follow TNM’s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
Three construction workers died of asphyxiation on Friday, October 2, after collapsing inside a newly constructed septic tank at a house under construction near Sendurai in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur district.
The deceased were identified as K Baskar (45), and K Dinakaran (60), both masons from Tiruvarur, and K Ramachandran (57), a carpenter from Sendurai of Ariyalur.
According to reports, the incident occurred at a house being constructed at Vallalar Nagar by M Subramanian (61), a construction contractor and resident of Gandhi Nagar in Sendurai.
The septic tank with a depth of around 15 feet, which was yet to be used, had been constructed around 20 days ago.
On around 12.20 pm on Friday, while Baskar and Dinakaran entered the tank through a small manhole to remove the wooden boards and supporting poles used during the construction, they developed breathing difficulties and collapsed inside the tank.
Ramachandran, who was initially assisting the two workers from outside, entered the tank in an attempt to rescue them. However, he too lost consciousness after experiencing breathing difficulties.
Subramanian rushed to the spot and alerted the police and fire and rescue department. The workers were subsequently taken to Sendurai Government Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Their bodies were later sent to the Ariyalur Medical College Hospital for postmortem examination.
A fire and rescue personnel who took part in the rescue told Times of India that all three workers were unconscious but showed minor body movements when the rescue team reached them.
He also said he noticed a strong chemical smell emanating from the black-painted inner walls of the tank and entered it with a portable oxygen cylinder.
Ariyalur District Collector N Mirunalini said that the deaths were not related to manual scavenging but were caused by poor ventilation inside the septic tank.
The district collector also said that relief would be provided to the families of the deceased workers and that their bodies would be handed over to the families after the postmortem examinations.
A case was registered and Subramanian was detained for inquiry. Further investigation is underway.
Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.