Four workers die, two get unconscious after inhaling toxic gas in Jhajjar factory; DC orders inquiry

Ravinder Saini

Jhajjar, August 3

In a tragic incident, four migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh died and two others got unconscious after they inhaled toxic gas emanating from a tank used to dump liquid waste and other garbage at a gas kit of a paper manufacturing unit in Rohad village here on Wednesday. 

The unconscious workers-Mayank and Vikas-have been admitted to a private hospital where their condition is stated to be critical.

The deceased have been identified as Rajbir of Kihar village, Ajay of Madaripur (Nawabganj), Jagatpal of Shahjahanpur and Prakash of Barabanki village in Uttar Pradesh. 

Deputy Commissioner Shakti Singh has formed a joint committee of local officials of departments of Industrial Safety, HSIIDC and Fire service to inquire about the incident and to find out those responsible for it. 

“The incident took place at noon when the tank was being cleaned through a pipe attached with a tractor. After some time, a labourer entered the tank to help the tractor operator to lift the garbage. He got unconscious after inhaling toxic gas. Five other labourers went inside to take him out but they also met the same fate,” said another labourer of the factory.

Later, all six labourers were taken out from the tank and were rushed to a nearby hospital where four of them died.   

DC Shakti Singh and SP Waseem Akram rushed to the spot on getting information about the incident and took stock of the situation. “Appropriate action will be taken against those found guilty in the inquiry,” said the DC, adding that doctors had been asked to provide all sorts of medical aid to injured labourers so as to save their lives.