6 die due to asphyxiation inside under-construction septic tank: Odisha Police

Preliminary findings indicate toxic gas accumulation inside the septic tank causing suffocation, police said

Published on: May 26, 2026, 12:50:16 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty, Bhubaneswar

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Six persons died and one fell sick on Tuesday due to asphyxiation after allegedly inhaling carbon dioxide inside an under-construction septic tank in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.

Police reached the scene and an investigation is underway. (Representative Photo/iStock)

The deceased were identified as Nimai Pal (48), owner of the house where the tank was being constructed, and his son Akash Pal (28), both residents of Karlakhunta village; Adal Majhi (55), Manoranjan Hati (27) of Matoganda village, and Chhanda Jal and Bipul Jal of Duta village.

The incident took place in Karlakhunta village under Madanpur Rampur police limits when centring-related work on the septic tank was underway. Preliminary reports suggest the mishap occurred during the removal of centring materials from the tank, which may have contained toxic gases.

According to the police, a worker first entered the tank but soon experienced breathing difficulties and failed to return. In an attempt to rescue him, six others entered the tank one after another.

However, they too reportedly lost consciousness inside the confined space. Police suspect a case of suffocation caused by the build-up of carbon dioxide or other toxic gases.

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Locals later pulled the victims out of the tank and rushed them to the Madanpur Rampur Hospital, where doctors declared six of them dead on arrival.

Pankaj Bhoi (32) of Hatikhoj village, fell sick and was initially admitted to Madanpur Rampur Hospital before being shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Police reached the scene and an investigation is underway.

While the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed, preliminary findings indicate toxic gas inside the septic tank causing suffocation, police said. Kalahandi SP Nagaraj Devarkonda said exact reason of death will be known after post-mortem reports are received

Expressing grief over the deaths, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex gratia of ₹4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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