Six people died and another fell ill on Tuesday after inhaling carbon dioxide accumulated inside a septic tank under construction in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.
The two deceased were identified as Nimai Pal (48), the owner of the house where the tank was being built, and his son Akash Pal (28), both residents of Karlakhonta village. Adal Majhi (55), Manoranjan Hatti (27) of Matuganda village, and Chanda Jal and Bipul Jal of Duta village.
The incident took place in Karlakhonta village under Madanpur Rampur police limits when station-related works on the septic tank were in progress. Initial reports indicate that the accident occurred while removing concentrated materials from the tank, which may have contained toxic gases.
According to police, the tank worker entered the tank first but soon had difficulty breathing and failed to return. In an attempt to save him, six others entered the tank one by one.
However, they reportedly lost consciousness inside the confined space. Police suspect that the suffocation was caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide or other toxic gases.
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Local residents later pulled the victims out of the tank and took them to Madanpur Rampur Hospital, where doctors declared six of them dead on arrival.
Pankaj Bhoi (32 years old), from Hattikhoj village, fell ill and was initially admitted to Madanpur Rampur Hospital before being transferred to the main district hospital as his condition deteriorated.
Police arrived at the scene and are investigating.
Police said that while the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed, preliminary findings indicate that toxic gas accumulated inside the septic tank, causing suffocation. Kalahandi SP Nagaraj Devarkonda said the exact cause of death would be known after receiving the post-mortem reports
Officers said confined spaces such as septic tanks are known to accumulate dangerous gases, including carbon dioxide, along with high humidity that has caused workers to lose consciousness and die.
Expressing grief over the deaths, Prime Minister Mohan Sharan Majhi announced an ex-gratia $4 thousand pounds for each of the relatives of the deceased.
