BIJNOR: Three people died and one person was hospitalised after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a tank at a sugar mill in Uttar Pradesh's Nangal on Friday, a police officer said.
Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Vajpayee said, "Kapil (40) entered a tank for cleaning and collapsed due to poisonous gas. Upon seeing this, Saunpal (49) went in to help him, but he fell unconscious as well. Supervisor Muneshwar (45) then attempted to rescue the two, but he also succumbed to the toxic gas. Finally, Prabhat entered the tank but met the same plight."
The tank inside, which all four individuals fainted contained two feet of rainwater.
On being informed, fire brigade personnel, equipped with safety kits, pulled out the labourers.
Kapil, Saunpal and Muneshwar were declared brought dead by doctors, while Prabhat is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital.
"He is out of danger," the officer said.
"The bodies of the deceased are being sent for post-mortem examination. Further investigations are underway," the ASP said.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Jasjit Kaur has constituted a four-member inquiry team to investigate the incident.
"A four-member team, led by the sub-divisional magistrate of Najibabad, will investigate the incident," she said, adding, "Based on the inquiry report, strict punitive action will be taken against those found guilty.