Three workers choke to death in ballast tank of barge at Tuticorin harbour

TUTICORIN: Three workers who were cleaning the ballast tank of a barge at old Tuticorin harbour died on Wednesday due to suspected asphyxiation after entering the narrow space.

Police identified the deceased as George Sharon, 24, of Uvari, Sandeep Kumar, 22, of Rajasthan, and T Jeniston, 35, of Punnaikayal. Boats, barges and cargo vessels often transport goods being exported from the old Tuticorin harbour. Sources said that on Wednesday, a barge was stationed at the harbour and was waiting to depart to the Maldives.

A few workers, including Sharon, were set to enter the ballast tank of the barge to clean it. Ballast tanks hold water to provide stability, and control the ship’s buoyancy, especially when the ship is without cargo.

Though Sharon entered the narrow space of the tank, he reportedly did not come out. Subsequently, Sandeep and Jeniston entered the ballast tank one after the other, but they too didn’t come out. Other workers nearby who were alarmed, alerted fire and rescue services department personnel and police.

Suspecting that the trapped workers may have suffocated and lost consciousness or inhaled toxic fumes, the rescue personnel created an opening in a portion of the tank for ventilation through welding. After an hour’s struggle, one of the firemen entered the tank equipped with a breathing apparatus and pulled out the unconscious workers, who had died by then.

The bodies of the three workers were sent for postmortem examination to Tuticorin Govt Medical College Hospital. Tuticorin coastal security police are investigating to determine the exact cause and circumstances that led to the deaths.