Six persons lost their lives due to inhalation of toxic gas while cleaning septic tank in Tamil Nadu. The horrific incident has occurred at Sriperumbudur, some 40 kilometers west of Chennai, reportedly due to lack of safety gears while entering septic tank for cleaning, which is prone to the accumulation of toxic methane gas. Three of the victims are from the same family.
The house owner has first entered the tank, after a sewage tanker evacuated it, to further clean it up, but fainted after inhaling the poisonous gas. Without being aware of the cause of his fall, his two sons had entered in, one after the other, falling prey to the gas. His two tenants also tried to revive them but they also fell unconscious and died.
A passerby was the latest victim, who lost his life while trying to save the others. The fire and rescue personnel on getting information rushed to the spot, retrieved the bodies and sent them for autopsy. A spell of gloom has descended in the area due to the horrific and avoidable incident.