Thoothukudi

The deceased have been identified as Esakiraja (17) of Veeravanallur, Bala (20), Pandi (28) and Dinesh (20) of Alangulam, sources said. The incident occurred at Keela Chekarakudi in Thoothukudi.

According to T Muthukumar, Srivaikuntam Station Fire Officer, after responding to a rescue call at 12.40 pm, six brigades under his leadership rushed to the spot. However, all efforts were in vain as the brigade could only manage to retrieve their bodies.

It was a private septic tank attached to a house of retired police officer. They drained the septic tank thrice already and while engaged in draining it for the fourth time in the ten feet depth tank, they succumbed after inhaling highly toxic gas from the tank.

One of them got down into the tank to clean it, but he did not come up. To help him, three others got into the tank, and died, the SFO said.

Thoothukudi Collector Sandeep Nanduri said those four victims belonged to Tirunelveli and engaging any person for scavenging is prohibited and the house owner, would be booked. Thoothukudi SP S Jeyakumar inspected the spot.

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