Nabarangpur, June 3, (OT Webdesk): A devastating incident in Padalguda village, Nabarangpur district, resulted in the deaths of four individuals due to asphyxiation inside a newly built septic tank. The victims included three sanitation workers and a local resident who attempted to rescue them.
The workers were engaged in removing the centring slab of the tank when two of them suddenly started suffocating. A third worker entered to help, followed by a passerby who also tried to assist, but none survived the toxic fumes inside the enclosed space.
Fire services personnel rushed to the scene and retrieved the victims. Three of them were declared dead upon arrival at the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), while the fourth passed away in the ICU.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that none of the workers had safety gear or oxygen support, turning the septic tank into a death trap. Authorities have launched an investigation, with forensic reports and post-mortems expected to provide further details on the tragedy.
This shocking incident underscores the urgent need for stringent workplace safety measures, particularly in confined spaces.
