A tragic industrial accident in Maharashtra's Sangli district has claimed the lives of three workers and left five others hospitalised after they inhaled poisonous gases inside a septic tank. The incident occurred late on Sunday evening at a private textile company located at Waghwadi Phata in Ishwarpur, formerly known as Islampur.
Sequence of a Fatal Rescue Attempt
According to details provided by the Ishwarpur police, the chain of events began around 6:30 pm on Sunday. Vishal Jadhav (30), a worker employed by a private contractor, entered the septic tank first to clean it. He quickly lost consciousness due to the inhalation of toxic fumes trapped inside the confined space.
Seeing his colleague in distress, Sachin Chavan (39), another contract worker, entered the tank in a brave but ill-fated rescue attempt. He too was overcome by the noxious gases and collapsed. Sagar Mali (25), a worker directly employed by the textile company, then rushed to help both men but also became trapped and fell critically ill inside the tank.
Victims and the Ongoing Treatment
Other workers who arrived later managed to pull all three men out of the tank. They were rushed to a hospital, where Vishal Jadhav, Sachin Chavan, and Sagar Mali were declared dead on arrival. Vishal and Sachin were residents of Beghar Vasahat in Ishwarpur, while Sagar hailed from Peth in Sangli's Walwa taluka.
The tragedy deepened as five more individuals who entered the tank for rescue operations also inhaled the poisonous gases and fell sick. Among them, the condition of 40-year-old Mahadev Kadam was reported as serious, necessitating his transfer to a private hospital in Kolhapur for advanced treatment.
The other four affected rescuers have been identified as Vishal Chougule (24), Keshav Salunkhe (45), Hemant Dhanwade (27), and Sunil Pawar (29), all from Sangli district. They are currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ishwarpur.
Police Investigation and Official Statement
The Ishwarpur police station was alerted about the incident by the hospital staff. Assistant Inspector Kiran Didwagh provided initial insights into the possible cause. "There was adequate space to stand inside the tank, and the water level was above the knee," he stated. "The lid was large, but the dirty water got stirred up during the cleaning, causing sludge to rise to the surface and release lethal gases. This led to the three fatalities."
The police have registered an accidental death case (ADR) and have initiated a thorough investigation. "A case will be formally registered after a complete probe," Assistant Inspector Didwagh added. "Appropriate legal action will be taken against anyone found guilty of negligence." The investigation will likely focus on safety protocols, the lack of protective gear, and whether standard operating procedures for cleaning confined spaces were followed.
This devastating event has cast a spotlight on the critical issue of industrial safety standards for workers, especially those involved in high-risk tasks like cleaning septic tanks and sewers. It underscores the persistent dangers faced by contract labourers and the dire consequences of inadequate safety measures at industrial sites across the region.
