NHRC notice to CS, SP on six deaths in septic tank tragedy

Bhubaneswar: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the death of six people by alleged suffocation after inhaling toxic gas inside a septic tank under construction in Kalahandi district on May 26.Issuing notices to the Odisha chief secretary (CS) and Kalahandi superintendent of police (SP), the commission has sought a detailed report within two weeks. The report is expected to include the status of the investigation, condition of the lone survivor and details of compensation paid to the victims’ families.The incident occurred at Gaud Karlakhunta village, where six people — including house owner Nimai Pal, 40, and his son Akash, 20, — died while attempting to remove centring materials from the 10-feet-deep tank. Police said five workers were engaged.According to preliminary findings, the tragedy unfolded after a mason entered the tank and failed to respond. One after another, others went inside in a bid to rescue him, but collapsed due to toxic fumes. Only one worker, identified as Pankaj Jani, was rescued alive, though he was found unconscious and rushed to the district headquarters hospital.“Seven people were found unconscious inside the tank after inhaling poisonous gas. Six of them were later declared dead,” Kalahandi SP Nagaraj Deverakonda said.The deceased workers have been identified as Adal Majhi, 45, from Gaud Karlakhunta village; Baikhuntha Jal, 35, Chanda Jal, 25, both from Salepali; and Manoranjan Hatti, 34, from Motaganda.Police said the workers had first created an opening, and two of them entered to dismantle the centring. When they did not respond, others followed in succession.Villagers attempted to rescue those trapped and informed fire service. Fire personnel later broke open the concrete slab and retrieved all seven victims from the tank.