7 die of toxic gas inside tank
■ THE DEATHS were caused by lack of oxygen in the tank. ■ IN A bid to save fellow workers, others entered the tank.
Seven workers died while cleaning a drainage tank at Venkateswara Hatcheries in Morram village, Palamaneru mandal in Chittoor district on Friday.
In a bid to save fellow workers, others entered the tank, which was full of toxic gases.
The deceased were identified as M. Ramesh, 32, G. Govinda Swamy, 35, B. Ramachandra, 23, A. Reddeppa, 30, R. Babu, 30, Keshav, 20 and B. Venkata Rajulu, 23. Siva Kumar Reddy is fighting for his life in hospital and doctors say the next 48 hours will be crucial.
The deaths were caused by lack of oxygen in the tank. An eight member team began the clean up of the drainage tank of the hatchery. Reddeppa went into the tank first, getting down with the help of a ladder.
When he did not emerge, another person went in. To help the two, a third person entered the tank.
This went on till all seven were inside the lethal tank.
Siva Kumar Reddy, the only one who is still alive, entered last and shouted for help when he saw what had happened. He was pulled out and taken to CMC hospital at Vellore in Tamil Nadu.
The tank is where the faecal matter and other waste from the hatchery is sent. It is then pumped out with water by a machine installed inside the tank. As something obstructed the water flow, the workers were sent to clean it. The management of the company told the police that the deceased had entered the tank without the knowledge of the company’s supervisors.
Seven workers died while cleaning a drainage tank at Venkateswara Hatcheries in Morram village, Palamaneru mandal in Chittoor district on Friday.
Palamaneru DSP, Ms Chowdeswari told Deccan Chronicle, “The case has been registered under IPC section 304A — causing death by negligence. The management said the men entered the tank without informing. The facts will come out after the enquiry.” The bodies were shifted to Palamaneru area hospital for post-mortem and later handed over to the families.
Meanwhile, the workers who died allegedly after inhaling toxic fumes in the cleaning tank had not worn masks, a basic requirement when doing work of this kind.
There are many procedures that ensure that there is adequate oxygen in the tank. First, the tank manhole lids are to be kept open for more than six hours, so that the toxic gas can escape. But in this case, only one end of the tank was opened and the men immediately jumped into it.
Second, a lit candle should be thrown into the tank to check the oxygen level — the flame will be extinguished if there is no oxygen. A live hen is also sent inside before humans enter; if it survives then the workers should proceed. These are basic procedures before cleaning the tanks. All faecal matter and other chicken waste cleaned from the hatchery empties into the tank. Diluted Pharmaline was used for the cleaning.
V. Srinivasa Reddy, district fire officer, Chittoor, told DC that if waste matter accumulates it can produce toxic gases.
The fire department said the management has not followed fire safety norms and doesn’t have a safety certificate.