Gopalganj/Patna: Four labourers died after allegedly being overcome by toxic and suffocating gases inside a septic tank in Savanahi Jagdish village under the Gopalpur police station area of Gopalganj district on Saturday.
The labourers had reportedly entered the newly constructed toilet tank to remove wooden and bamboo centering used during construction. The incident triggered panic in the area, with local residents rushing to the site after the labourers became trapped inside.
One labourer entered after another
According to local residents, construction of a toilet tank was under way at the house of Reshma Khatoon. After the tank was cast, a labourer identified as Bunty entered the tank to remove the centering.
When he failed to emerge for a prolonged period, three other labourers reportedly entered the tank one after another to check on him.
It is suspected that toxic gases had accumulated inside the enclosed tank, causing the labourers to lose consciousness and suffocate.
Another labourer, Seraj, who was outside at the time, also entered the tank and was affected by the gas. Other workers managed to pull him out before he was seriously harmed.
Brother rushed into tank after hearing of incident
Among the deceased was 26-year-old Rakesh Baitha, who reportedly entered the tank after learning that his elder brother, Dhanesh Baitha, was at the site.
Dhanesh had been working on the centering when the first group of labourers became trapped. Suspecting that something had gone wrong, he went to seek help from villagers.
Rakesh, who was at home, was informed that his brother was in danger. He reportedly rushed to the site and entered the tank, but was also overcome by the toxic gas.
Villagers break tank wall to rescue workers
After news of the incident spread, a large number of villagers gathered at the site. Residents made considerable efforts to rescue the trapped labourers, eventually breaking part of the tank and using a ladder to retrieve them.
The four labourers were brought out unconscious and rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Three of the victims were reportedly from the same village.
The incident has left the families of the deceased devastated.
“He was my grandson, whom I had raised since childhood; I have no sons of my own. I kept him with me, cared for him, and raised him hoping he would be my support in my old age, but four people, including my grandson, have died of suffocation in the toilet tank,” said Islam Ansari, maternal grandfather of deceased Sabbe Alam.
Four victims identified
The deceased have been identified as:
- Umesh Yadav, 35, son of Vishwanath Yadav, Savanahi Vritt, Gopalpur police station area
- Javed Alam, 31, son of Md Ghyasuddin, Savanahi Bazaar
- Rakesh Baitha, 26, son of late Ramchandra Baitha, Savanahi Patti, Shripur police station area
- Sabbe Alam, 18, son of Sultan Alam, Gidha, Shripur police station area
Investigation ordered
Gopalpur police reached the spot after receiving information about the incident and sent the bodies to Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
An investigation has also been ordered following directions from the District Magistrate. A team will examine the circumstances of the incident, including safety standards at the construction site and the cause of the deaths.
“This incident occurred in Savanahi Jagdish village under the Gopalpur police station area, where four people died while removing the shuttering from a toilet tank in a newly constructed house. Post-mortems have been conducted on all the bodies. The matter is being investigated, and further action is being taken. The situation is currently normal,” said Anand Mohan Gupta, SDPO, Hathua.
