Four migrant workers died of asphyxiation while cleaning a septic chamber in a textile factory in Surat on Tuesday. The deceased include a 16-year-old boy, his father and other two, who all fell unconscious after entering the septic tank and died of suffocation.
After the incident, the State police, the factory inspector office and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) have launched a probe against the factory.
The police have lodged a case of accidental deaths after the incident occurred at the Kiran Industries, a yarn dyeing company in a village near Surat.
As per the details, Rajusingh Bodhaniya (33), worked as a boiler labourer in the factory, was cleaning the effluent treatment plant’s 20 feet deep recycled water tank along with his son Kamlesh (16). The two other labourers, Shahbaz Shaikh (20) and Dipak Umashanker (27), were standing outside.
The police said first Bodhaniya entered the chamber to clean a clogged water pipe. He fell unconscious inside tank so his 16-year-old son followed him and he too fell unconscious. Subsequently, Shaikh and Umashanker shouted for help and entered the water tank to rescue the duo and they also became unconscious immediately due to high level of toxic gases.
They were brought out by the Fire Brigade personnel and they were taken to a hospital where they were declared brought dead.
The police have recorded the statement of factory owner Amit Shekhani, who lives in Surat city.
The tragic incident in Surat came days after a person from Bihar died in a stampede while trying to board a Bhagalpur-bound train from Surat railway station ahead of Diwali and Chhath festival. Several other people were also injured as they tried to board the Bihar-bound Tapti Ganga Express train.
