Four labourers from Assam died after being trapped inside a newly constructed septic tank at a house in Rangdokram village in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills district on Monday afternoon, police said.
The deceased were identified as Mofidur Rohman (34), Ajiyer Rahman (41), Ismail Hussain (20), and Rakib Hussain (22). All four were residents of South Salmara-Mankachar district of Assam.
The incident occurred around 3pm at the residence of Sebastian Ch Sangma when the labourers reportedly fell into the tank while attempting to open its cover. Police suspect that toxic gas inside the septic tank led to their death.
Efforts by co-workers to rescue them were also hampered after the rescuers were affected by the toxic gas, police said.
The exact cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained, probe is underway, police said.