VELLORE: Three workers were asphyxiated when they were cleaning a 10-foot deep tank on the premises of a private
leather factory
in Periyavarikam in
Vellore
district of
Tamil Nadu on Tuesday evening.
The deceased have been identified as B Selvam, 22, Keel Mittalam, A Kothandam, 23, of Mittalam, and Ranganathan, 48, of Panneerkottai. They were workers at Maruthi Leathers in Periyavarikam.
The incident happened between 4.20 pm and 4.40 pm. Selvam entered the well -- in the reverse osmosis plant -- to clean it. Apparently, after breathing poisonous gas, he fell into the well that had two-foot deep water.
Kothandam entered the well to help Selvam. However, he too met with the same fate.
Supervisor of the company Ranganathan followed Kothandam to pull the duo to safety, but he too died.
Police said the workers had entered the well without wearing any safety gears.
Leather companies and tanneries in the district, which were using hazardous chemicals, had miserably failed to ensure the safety of the workers, workers in tanneries in the area alleged.
The victims’ relatives and neighbours demanded compensation to the kin.
Police officials said a case would be registered.