A 27-year-old daily wage labourer died and a plumber was hospitalised after both inhaled toxic gas while attempting to clear a blocked septic-tank pipeline at an apartment complex in Pallikaranai, Chennai, on Monday night, police said. The incident has led to a case against the apartment owner for allegedly endangering life and causing death by negligence.
The incident occurred at an apartment complex on Veerasamy Street, Second Main Road, in Vivekananda Nagar. Police said sewage had begun overflowing because the pipeline connected to the septic tank was blocked. House owner R Aishwarya, 39, approached Rajesh, who lived opposite the apartment, on Monday morning and asked him to clear the blockage. Rajesh agreed to take up the work after completing his other duties.
Rajesh later brought Kesavan to assist him. According to police, Rajesh opened the septic tank cover and bent down to inspect the pipeline. He inhaled toxic gas, lost consciousness and fell into the tank. Kesavan then entered the tank in an attempt to rescue him, but also fell inside after being exposed to the gas.
Residents alerted the police and the fire and rescue services. Emergency personnel retrieved both men from the tank. Kesavan was found dead at the scene, while Rajesh was taken to a private hospital for treatment. His condition was not specified in the report. Kesavan’s body was sent to Chromepet Government Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Police said the two men had no experience in septic-tank cleaning and were not using safety equipment when they entered the tank. Toxic gases can accumulate in confined sewage spaces, making entry without appropriate equipment and trained personnel hazardous. The police account places the exposure inside the apartment complex’s septic-tank system, which had been affected by a blocked pipeline and overflowing sewage.
Pallikaranai police registered a case against Aishwarya under charges relating to endangering life and personal safety and causing death by negligence. The case follows the recovery operation and the hospitalisation of Rajesh. Further legal proceedings will determine the responsibility arising from the incident.
