A tragic industrial accident claimed the lives of three workers after they inhaled toxic gas inside a septic tank at a factory in Delhi's Mundka Industrial Area on Friday. According to the Delhi Fire Service, a distress call was received from Factory No. 93/8 in Mundka Industrial Area, following which two fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Preliminary information suggests that one worker had entered the septic tank for work when he was overcome by poisonous gases and lost consciousness. In a desperate attempt to save him, two other workers entered the tank one after another. However, they too were exposed to the toxic fumes and collapsed inside the confined space.
Fire department personnel launched a rescue operation and pulled all three workers out of the septic tank before shifting them to a nearby hospital. However, Doctors declared all three brought dead.
Victims identified
The deceased have been identified as Arun (38), son of Ajit Singh, Sandeep (32), son of Paleram, and Chand (42), son of Raju. All three were residents of the Indra Jheel area of Sultanpuri in outer Delhi.
Police arrest three
Meanwhile, Delhi Police have arrested three persons in connection with the incident. Police have registered an FIR (FIR No. 376/26) and booked the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act (Manual Scavenging Act), and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The arrested accused are:
- Suraj Marwah (50): A resident of Mansarovar Garden in Delhi. He is the owner of the premises where the septic tank cleaning work was being carried out.
- Jayant (61): A resident of Das Garden, Baprola Vihar in Delhi.
- Neeraj (35): A resident of Nangloi. He is the owner of the vehicle used for the cleaning operation and had hired the sanitation workers on a contractual basis.
Delhi Police said further investigation is underway to identify any other individuals who may have been involved in the incident.
Why septic tank accidents are often fatal
Industrial safety experts have repeatedly warned that septic tanks and underground chambers are confined spaces where hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulphide, methane and carbon dioxide can accumulate. These gases can rapidly reduce oxygen levels, causing unconsciousness and death within minutes if proper safety measures are not followed.
Experts stress that workers should never enter septic tanks without gas detection equipment, protective breathing apparatus and trained emergency rescue support. Such incidents are often preventable through strict adherence to workplace safety norms.
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