Two workers died and two others were hospitalised after four men fell into a sewage pit at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's under-construction sewage treatment plant in the city's Sola area on Monday afternoon. The plant, with a capacity of 30 million litres per day, was undergoing a trial run, and the men were carrying out inspection and welding work at the pump house.

Source: IANS

According to preliminary information, welder Abhishek, 28, lost his footing while climbing a ladder after welding work inside the pumping unit and fell into the sewage water. Site in-charge Manoj, 40, project manager Rupesh Baviskar, 39, and driver Neelesh Lodhi, 26, went in to rescue him, but gases believed to be emanating from the sewage overcame them and all four lost consciousness.

The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services received a call through the 112 emergency line. Teams from the Thaltej and Bodakdev fire stations, wearing breathing apparatus, retrieved all four men in an operation lasting around 30 to 45 minutes. They were taken by 108 ambulance to Sola Civil Hospital, where Abhishek and Manoj were declared brought dead, while Baviskar and Lodhi were admitted for treatment and were reported to be in stable, improving condition.

Source: The Indian Express via News89

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation said it has issued a notice imposing a penalty of Rs 50 lakh on the contractor, M/s HNB Engineers Pvt Ltd, and that the company has undertaken to pay Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the two deceased workers. Sola police have begun an inquiry, and an Accidental Death report is to be filed, police said. The exact cause of the accident and the safety arrangements at the site will be examined by the authorities.

ANI also reported the accident, quoting Divisional Fire Officer S.B. Jadeja that the rescue operation lasted about 45 minutes and that the two rescued men were shifted to Sola Civil Hospital.

Source: ANI via DevDiscourse