AHMEDABAD: Tragedy struck in Gujarat's Kutch district as five workers lost their lives in a fatal accident at Emami Agro Tech Company in Kandla. The victims reportedly died from suffocation while cleaning a tank at the facility, marking yet another deadly industrial mishap in the region. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Commenting on the tragic incident, Emami Agro Tech's HR representative, Sunil Yadav, told local media, “Around 12:30 a.m. last night, the in-charge supervisor, Mr Tiwari, went to inspect the drainage system of the water tank. Unfortunately, he accidentally fell into the tank during the check.”
He further added, “Hearing his screams for help, other workers rushed to the scene and jumped inside the tank in a rescue attempt. However, due to the presence of gas, they all fell unconscious, leading to this devastating outcome.”
Sunil Yadav added, "Attempts were made by other workers on-site to save him, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. By 1 a.m., the company alerted the responsible authorities, and a rescue operation was promptly launched with the assistance of the fire department. The victims were initially taken to a private hospital and then transferred to the government-run Rambagh Hospital in Adipur, where the on-duty doctor declared all of them dead."
He further stated, "An investigation is currently underway to determine whether the incident was caused by a gas leak at the refining facility or another factor. The company will provide financial assistance of Rs. 10 lakh to the families of each victim, and legal support will also be extended to them."
The victims are identified as Sidharth Tiwari, Ajmat Khan, Ashish Gupta, Ashish Kumar, and Sanjay Thakur.
A case of accidental death has been filed at Kandla police station, and authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the incident.
Notably, in February 2024, during a Legislative Assembly session, MLA Arjun Modhwadia raised concerns about worker fatalities in industrial accidents. In response, Industries Minister Balwant Singh Rajput revealed that a total of 714 workers had lost their lives in such incidents between 2021 and February 2024 in Gujarat.