Four labourers die in water tank

RAJKOT: Tragedy struck families of four labourers on Labh Pacham when the four were asphyxiated to death in the water filter plant of Jetpur Dyeing and Printing Association that they had entered for cleaning in Jetpur on Wednesday.

The deceased were identified as Jaipal Vala (34), a resident of Jetpur, Hariya Bhuriya (45), Rakesh Bamaniya (26) and Rusmal Mali (20), all residents of Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.

Like every year post Diwali, the plant management had decided to undertake the cleaning work of the tank. Vala had been entrusted with the responsibility of this task.

"Vala hired three labourers from Madhya Pradesh for the work. First, Bhuriya and Bamaniya got inside the tank which was filled with two feet water. As soon as they got inside, they were suffocated and fell unconscious. As they didn't come out, Vala asked Mali to enter and check. When he got inside, he too got asphyxiated. Finally, Vala decided to check himself as none of the three responded for a long time. When he got into the tank, he too got asphyxiated," said Jetpur police official.

The plant management informed police and the bodies of the victims were fished out.

"We are yet to investigate which chemical reaction led to the gas causing asphyxiation in the tank. We are also yet to probe by whose negligence the accident occurred," added the official.