3 held for Erode SIPCOT gas leak deaths

Seven workers of a textile dyeing unit near Perundurai died by asphyxiation after inhaling toxic gas in a tank on Tuesday.

The tank at the dyeing unit near SIPCOT at Perundurai where seven workers died due to suffocation on Tuesday. Photo: M. Govarthan

Three persons, including the manager of a textile dyeing unit near Perundurai, have been arrested in connection with the deaths of seven workers by asphyxiation after inhaling toxic gas in a tank on Tuesday.

The others arrested include a man in charge of pollution control and a labour welfare officer, police said, adding all were held late last night.

They said bodies of five workers were handed over to the next of kin on Tuesday, while two others, hailing from Nepal, were cremated in Erode.

Meanwhile pollution control board officials said power connection to the factory had been cut and the unit would be sealed, pending further investigations.

The tragedy occurred when a group of workers were engaged in repairing a motor near the tank at the factory in SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre, 25 km from Erode.

Initially, two workers accidentally fell into the tank. Several other colleagues jumped into the tank to rescue them.

However, many of them fainted after inhaling the toxic gas. Seven of them, in the age group of 21-35, died on the spot while nine others were rescued by fellow workers and fire and rescue service personnel.