2 who inhaled poisonous gas at luxury hotel die
NEW DELHI: Two of the five men who fell unconscious inside a sewage treatment plant at a fivestar hotel in Delhi’s Khan Market on Sunday, died during treatment at a private hospital on Tuesday morning, police said.
Ravindra Pal, 40, and Vikram, 26, had remained critical and on ventilator support ever since they were rescued from the plant of Vivanta By Taj – Ambassador hotel on Sunday afternoon.
The deaths have prompted the police to add the Indian Penal Code section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) in the case after initially booking the officials of a private firm and the hotel under section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide).
“We have booked them under the stringent section because there are people responsible to ensure that such an accident doesn’t occur. It is well within their knowledge that allowing someone inside the plant without necessary safety equipments is dangerous. It is an open-ended case against whoever was supposed to ensure safety,” said Madhur Verma, deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi).
A spokesperson for the hotel said it was “fully cooperating with authorities in the investigations”. “We extend our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the families during this difficult time,” said the spokesperson.
Last year, more than 10 people died while cleaning sewage tanks across Delhi, triggering outrage and compelling the police to begin booking those responsible under the stringent IPC section 304.
The officer said Pal was employed on contract as maintenance staff by Eco pollutech engineers, a private company tasked with running the plant. Vikram, too, was on contract, but with the security unit of the hotel.