Effluent fumes killed labourers in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials gave their report of Dantali GIDC deaths in Gandhinagar district to Santej police on Thursday. The police investigators will take a call on the basis of the report whether the case - where two youths died after entering the manhole - is of accidental death or causing death by negligence.

Santej police officials led by inspector B M Dave and FSL officer G P Darbar visited the spot on Thursday. FSL team also suggested collection of samples from the pit. "As per the primary investigation, it seems that the manhole was constructed on an older hole that initially worked as a vent for the toxic hydrogen sulphide fumes. The unit manufactures sulphur and thus it is possible that the effluent might have accumulated over the years in the pit. The duo had inhaled the fumes. Another factor noticed at the spot was the size of the pit and the ventilation system," said an investigator.

On Tuesday, Bhavesh Vaghela, a worker at the unit, had entered the manhole near a chemical production unit at GIDC for cleaning work. He died soon after due to asphyxiation and possibly inhaling toxic gas. Ranjit Wadhwana, another labourer at the spot, entered the pit to save Vaghela. He fell unconscious after which he was shifted to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital where he died during treatment.

Dave said that they would take the action against those responsible on the basis of the post-mortem report ascertaining the cause of death and the FSL report outlining the working condition at the spot.