Five workers killed after inhaling toxic gas in Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad district magistrate Dr Ajay Shankar Pandey has ordered a magisterial inquiry in the incident and lodging of FIRs against those responsible.

Five workers died after inhaling poisonous gases inside an under-construction manhole at Krishna Kunj Colony in Ghaziabad on Thursday afternoon.

A government spokesperson also said four engineers of the UP Jal Nigam were suspended with immediate effect for their alleged laxity in supervision and asked the officials to initiate disciplinary action and a detailed charge sheet. (HT FILE)

The incident took place when a sewer network was being laid under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme.

Ghaziabad district magistrate Dr Ajay Shankar Pandey has ordered a magisterial inquiry in the incident and lodging of FIRs against those responsible.

Police said that around 1.25pm, a sewer line was being laid and the workers were in the process of connecting it to the manhole at Krishna Kunj locality near Nandgram.

The project is being executed by the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam through a contractor firm.

The UP government on late Thursday evening directed an FIR against the contractor firm and asked Ghaziabad officials to disallow any contracts to the firm in future projects.

A government spokesperson also said four engineers of the UP Jal Nigam were suspended with immediate effect for their alleged laxity in supervision and asked the officials to initiate disciplinary action and a detailed charge sheet.

The police said one of the five workers, who was doing cementing- plastering work near the manhole, suddenly fell inside, possibly after inhaling toxic gases and passing out.

“After the man fell inside, a second worker rushed to his help and entered the manhole to retrieve him. He too fell unconscious after entering the manhole and did not come out. A third worker went inside to retrieve the other two, but he too was trapped. Similarly, a fourth and a fifth worker went inside, but none of them emerged. This is when the locals alerted the police and all five men were pulled up using ropes and belts. They were declared dead at a nearby hospital,” said Shlok Kumar, superintendent of police (city).

The identity of the five workers were established after the police reached the spot around 4pm and talked to one of their colleagues. The five were identified as Horil (35), Sandeep Kumar (30), Damodar (40), contractor Vijay Kumar and his brother-in-law Shiv Kumar — all from Samastipur in Bihar.

“We are trying to contact their family members with the help of the local administration in Bihar. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister has taken cognisance of the incident and has directed that all possible help be extended to the families of the victim. He has ordered action against anyone found responsible for this tragedy. The UP Jal Nigam has declared a compensation of ₹10 lakh each to the families of the deceased. I have directed for a magisterial inquiry the report of which must be submitted within two weeks,” said district magistrate Pandey.

Pandey said noxious gases might have been present inside the manhole, though it was not connected to the sewer network. “There was stagnant water inside. We have asked for a technical report from the fire department. The bodies have been retrieved and sent for post-mortem examination,” Pandey said.

GS Srivastava, chief engineer of UP Jal Nigam, said an inquiry had been ordered about any possible laxity and also to determine “why the workers were without any safety gear.”

Jitendra Yadav, a co-worker and a machine operator working at the site, said the workers were given adequate safety gear and equipment but they were not wearing it at the time of the incident. “They left their safety gear and equipment at the godown at Delhi-Meerut Road, where they stay. They generally came for work with a ‘Angocha’ (a piece of cloth) tied on their mouth. There was about 1-2 feet of stagnant water inside,” Yadav said.

The five bodies were taken to Hindon mortuary where the deceased were identified by another co-worker, Lal Tun.