The Hindu : Front Page : Four persons die of asphyxiation

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Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
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Four persons die of asphyxiation

V. Venkatasubramanian

They were working on Hyundai Motor India premises at Irrungattukottai

They were at the underground waste water treatment plant
It was put on trial run a few months ago

KANCHEEPURAM: Four employees of a Pune-based industrial waste disposal company died of asphyxiation while working on the Hyundai Motor India premises in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate at Irrungattukottai, near Chennai, on Friday night.

Another person, who developed breathing difficulties and fainted after inhaling “poisonous” gas, was admitted to Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute Hospital at Porur and stated to be out of danger.

According to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sriperumpudur, P. Balasubramaniam, the incident took place at around 8-30 p.m. at the waste water treatment plant, phase-II, being set up by Thermax Limited.

The victims — site engineer Maran of Villivakkam, Chennai; electrical engineer Mohan and chemical engineer Sirish, both hailing from Pune; and contract labourer Muthu of Veerasozhapuram in Kallkurichi taluk in Villupuram district — were working at the underground waste water treatment plant, which was put on trial run a few months ago.

Workers waiting outside were worried when Maran and others failed to respond to their repeated calls. They decided to send in another contract labourer, Santosh, of Pune, with a rope tied on to his hip, into the underground plant.

Santosh raised an alarm and fainted as soon as he climbed down a few steps into the plant. He was pulled out and rushed to hospital. Maran and his colleagues were found dead. The bodies were later shifted to the Government Hospital at Sriperumpudur.

In a press statement, the management of Thermax and Hyundai Motor India Limited announced an interim relief of Rs.2 lakh each to the families of the deceased. The Thermax management said it was making arrangements to transport the bodies to their native places.

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