Four workers die after inhaling toxic fumes at a septic tank in Surat

Image is for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: AP

Four workers reportedly died after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a septic tank at a jewelery manufacturing unit in Surat, Gujarat, on Sunday (June 7, 2026) morning.

While suffocation is likely to be the primary cause of their death, the exact cause will be confirmed by the post-mortem report, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-1, Alok Kumar said. The incident took place in a septic tank, which collects waste from the jewelery cleaning process, in the Ashwini Kumar area, he said.

The septic tank undergoes cleaning and maintenance every two months. Four individuals entered the tank this morning — a supervisor and three workers. They collapsed due to the effects of the poisonous gas and all died, the official said.

“We are investigating whose negligence led to the incident as preliminary investigations show that safety protocols were not followed. However, we will investigate the matter in detail,” he said.

The supervisor called the fire brigade before entering the tank and preliminary findings indicate that they lacked any safety equipment, the DCP said.

As soon as the incident was reported, firemen rushed to the spot and carried out a rescue operation, took all the four victims out of the tanker and took them to the hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead, according to officials.

“We are currently registering a case of accidental death. We will also analyze the CCTV footage to determine what protocols should have been put in place versus what was actually implemented and then fix the responsibility,” the DCP said.

Published – 07 Jun 2026 22:33 IST