COIMBATORE: Three youths died of asphyxiation after they entered into a septic tank of the gold smithery unit to collect gold near RS Puram in the city in the wee hours of Friday.
The youths have been identified as Gowri Shankar (21) from Nambiazhagampalayam near Vedaptti, M Ezhumalai (23) of Kandhasamy Gounder Street and P Suryakumar.
According to sources, Shankar and Ezhumalai entered the tank at 1 am on Friday. As soon as they entered into the septic tank, foul smell started to emanate from the tank. Later, when they went deeper inside the septic tank, the two youths had shouted for help as they were not able to breathe.
On hearing the alarm, P Suryakumar, who was standing outside the septic tank, entered into the tank to help them. Meanwhile, people nearby alerted the fire and rescue personnel, who rushed to the spot and rescued all the three.
While Suryakumar was battling for life, the two other youths, Gowri Shankar and Ezhumalai died on the spot due to asphyxiation. Unfortunately, Surya also died in the CHCM without responding to the treatment.
Initial reports have revealed that all the youths had taken the septic tank cleaning work contract for Rs 7000 as they would collect gold from the septic tank. As they were deployed without following the security measures, RS Puram police have booked Ravishankar, owner of the smithery unit, under section 304(A)(Death due to Negligence) of Indian Penal Code and are on the lookout for him.