Two asphyxiated while cleaning septic tank

The deceased were identified as Vivekanandan (27) of Varadarajapuram, Nazarathpet and cleaner Veera (25) from the same locality. After preliminary inquiry, the police said that authorities of a factory, which manufactures brake shoes for cars, had hired a sewage tanker lorry to clean the septic tank in the premises.

Around 3 pm, after draining the 15-foot-deep tank, Veera reportedly got into the tank. As he did not return, Vivekanandan also went inside. Both of died inside the tank after inhaling poisonous gases, said a police officer attached to the Vellavedu police station.

On information, the Vellavedu police personnel recovered the bodies from the tank and sent them for post-mortem examination to a nearby government hospital. An FIR has been registered and further investigation is on.

A seven-year-old girl drowned in a pond at Pallavaram onSaturday afternoon.

The police said that M Swathi, a Class 1 student in a private school, returned from the school and was playing with her friends near her house when she accidentally fell into the pond. Her friends, who noticed this, informed the victim’s parents who alerted the fire and rescue service. The personnel, who rushed to the spot, recovered her body. It was sent to Chromepet Government Hospital for autopsy and a case has been registered with the Shankar Nagar police station.