Two labourers asphyxiated to death while working in septic tank in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Jul 11 (PTI) Two labourers were asphyxiated to death while working in a septic tank in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, police said. The incident took place at a building that is under construction in BJB Nagar area under the jurisdiction of Badagada police station this afternoon. The deceased were identified as Dhuma Tudu (40) of Odisha's Mayurbhanj district and Prabir Das (56) of West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, a police officer said. Assistant Fire Officer Manoranjan Rout said the two persons fell unconscious due to a shortage of oxygen in the septic tank. "They were immediately rushed to the Capital Hospital, where doctors declared them dead," he said. Police said the construction labourers were removing the shuttering planks used to cover the septic tank, when the structure suddenly gave way. They were trapped under the debris and were exposed to toxic gases in the tank, a police officer said. Further investigation is underway into how the labourers were engaged in work in the septic tank without safety measures, he said, adding their families have been informed. PTI AAM AAM ACD