Three die of toxic gas in septic tank; law continues to be violated

Three Schedule Caste community members from Katchipedu village in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, died of suffocation while cleaning a septic tank at a private resort in Sriperumbudur on Friday.

Ranganathan, Naveen Kumar and Thirumalai aged 51, 30, and 18 years respectively, died due to exposure to toxic gas in a septic tank of a resort. The workers were not given safety gear, required while entering septic tanks.

Resort manager Murali and contractor Rajini were arrested on the day of the accident, while resort owner Sathyamoorthy fled, police said. “Around 11 in the morning, the three men entered the 5,000-litre-capacity septic tank one after another. As there was no sign of any of the three, a fourth worker, Kumar, gave the high sign,” said M Sudhakar, Superintendent of Police, Kancheepuram district.

Ranganathan leaves behind his wife and two children, while Naveen Kumar is survived by his wife and a toddler. Thirumalai is survived by his newly married wife, police said.

The fire and rescue army of Sriperumbudur rushed to the scene, brought out the bodies and later the bodies were sent to Sriperumbudur general hospital for post mortem. Victims’ relatives and villagers protested outside the resort against the management, soon after the accident. The protestors were later driven away by senior police officers.

The Sriperumbudur police filed a case under IPC sections 336 and 304 (a)- death caused due to negligence and Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. The case was also registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Also, the MLA of Sriperumbudur, K Selvaperunthagai, visited the bereaved families.

“We will get Rs 10 lakh compensation for each of the victims from the resort owner and Rs 12 lakh each will be paid by the government. The Rs 12 lakh will be paid in two instalments. We will first send a proposal to the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department and it will be sent to the government for consideration. Also, based on the suggestions we receive from the department, employment for the families of the victims or land will be arranged,” M Aarathi, Kancheepuram District Collector, said.