Four individuals lost their lives due to asphyxiation inside a newly built septic tank in Padalguda village under Nandahandi block in Nabarangpur district on Tuesday.
The victims included three sanitation workers and a local resident, who succumbed to the hazardous gases trapped inside the enclosed space.
According to preliminary reports, the sanitation workers were called to remove the centring slab of the newly constructed septic tank, measuring approximately 10×10 feet. Upon entering, two workers quickly began suffocating, prompting a third to enter in an attempt to rescue them. A passerby, hearing their cries, also jumped in but met the same fate.
Fire services personnel arrived swiftly and retrieved the victims from the tank. Sadly, three workers were declared dead upon arrival at the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), while the fourth victim, who had been admitted to the ICU, later succumbed to the toxic environment.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the workers were not equipped with safety gear or oxygen support. The absence of protective measures in confined-space work turned the septic tank into a death trap.
Local authorities have begun investigations into the incident, with forensic examinations and post-mortem reports expected to provide further insights.
