3, including father-son duo, asphyxiated in water sump in Thirumullaivoyil

CHENNAI: Three persons, including a father-son duo, were asphyxiated while cleaning a water sump in their house on Friday in Thirumullaivoyil. Third person was the neighbour, who went to rescue the other two.

The condition of a fourth man, who went to rescue the deceased remains critical. The deceased were identified as K Prem Kumar (50), his son Praveen Kumar (18) and their neighbour R Pramod (40).

According to police on Friday morning, Prem Kumar (50) of Sivasakthi Nagar, Thirumullaivoyal, entered the water sump at his house to clean it. His wife Rathi, who came looking for him found him missing for a long time and asked her 18-year-old son P Pradeep Kumar, who too entered the sump looking for his father.

As both failed to come out, Rathi alerted her neighbours - R Pramod (40) and S Saranathan (50), who too entered the sump and fainted inside. After the neighbours informed the police, firemen reached the spot and fished out three bodies, which were sent to the Government Kilpauk Medical College for autopsy. Saranathan is under medical care at KMC.

Thirumullaivoyal police are investigating.