Two labourers cleaning a septic tank inside a house in north Delhi died after inhaling poisonous gases on Monday afternoon.
The son of one of the deceased barely managed to survive after he himself lost consciousness while trying to rescue his father.
Police have booked a case of causing death by negligence against the house owner and investigations are on.
One of the deceased has been identified as Ram Kripal, 50. The other victim remains unidentified as Kripal had picked him up from the roadside to help with the work. Police are trying to identify him.
The incident took place around 12 noon on Monday while Kripal, his son Mangal and the other victim arrived at the house in Swaroop Nagar for cleaning the tank.
“The unidentified labourer first entered the tank to begin the cleaning work while Kripal stayed outside. A few minutes later, Kripal called out to him but received no response. He then entered the tank to check,” said a police officer.
The gases inside apparently caused even Kripal to faint and fall. The landlady Rani heard a loud thud and raised an alarm. Kripal’s son Mangal, 18, who was outside the house rushed inside.
“I tied myself to a rope and with the help of locals entered the septic tank. I first helped pull out the other labourer whose face had turned blue. I found my father a few minutes later and tried to pull him by his hand, but I began losing consciousness,” said Mangal.
Locals then stepped in to pull the father and son from inside using hooks they attached to the victims’ clothes.
Water was sprayed on their faces which saved Mangal as he regained consciousness.
All three were rushed to a hospital where two of them were declared brought dead. Police were informed and a case registered in this connection.
Kripal’s family claimed that the septic tank had not been opened for the last 15 years, causing poisonous gases to form inside.
Police said the actual cause of the death would be known only after the arrival of the autopsy report. Kripal lived in a rented accommodation with his wife and seven children and worked as a labourer.
I first helped pull out the other labourer whose face had turned blue. I found my father a few minutes later and tried to pull him by his hand, but I began losing consciousness
