Patna: A tragic incident occurred in Samastipur on Monday when a worker died and three others fell unconscious due to suffocation from toxic gas while removing construction material from a septic tank. The event took place in Shahru village under the Shivaji Nagar police station area.
Incident Details
According to police, the deceased was identified as Paltan Thakur (60), a resident of the area. The three individuals who lost consciousness are Kanhai Mandal (30) from Baheri, and Jhilmil Das (50) and Ajay Gadha (45), both from Shahru village. Villagers managed to pull all four out of the tank after significant effort. They were immediately taken to Shivaji Nagar Primary Health Centre, where Thakur was declared dead. The other three were referred to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for further treatment.
Sequence of Events
Police reports indicate that Paltan Thakur had recently constructed a septic tank in his old house. On Monday, he entered the tank along with mason Jhilmil Das and workers Ajay Gadha and Kanhai Mandal to remove construction material. Shortly after entering, all four began losing consciousness one by one, likely due to the accumulation of toxic gases inside the tank.
Shivaji Nagar Station House Officer (SHO) Ravindra Kumar confirmed that a police team was dispatched to the scene. "Further action is being taken based on statements from family members. The body has been sent to the sadar hospital for postmortem examination," he said.
Safety Concerns
This incident highlights the dangers associated with confined spaces like septic tanks, where toxic gases such as methane or hydrogen sulfide can accumulate. Authorities urge caution and proper safety measures when working in such environments. The police are investigating the matter and will take appropriate legal action as necessary.
