27-05-2025
Jaipur: 4 workers die after being sent into septic tank to collect gold residue
Four labourers died, and four others were hospitalised after inhaling toxic gases inside a septic tank at a jewellery factory in Rajasthan's Jaipur. The workers were sent into the 10-foot septic tank of the factory, located in the Sitapura industrial area, to extract gold and silver from the residual incident happened at the factory of Achal Jewels on Monday evening. Of the four injured, two are in critical condition, while the rest have been discharged after primary workers had initially refused to enter the tank, citing extreme heat and the risk of toxic gas formation. However, they were persuaded by the factory management after being promised of extra money.
Initially, Amit and Rohit entered the septic tank. Within minutes, they began to lose consciousness and cried out for help. To save them, fellow workers - Sanjeev, Himanshu, Arpit, Ajay, Rajpal, Mukesh - entered the tank. However, they all lost consciousness due to workers were then brought out of the tank and rushed to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital. However, Sanjeev, Himanshu, Rohit and Arpit were declared dead on police officer Surendra Singh said the workers were employed by a contractor and were involved in refinery tasks at the jewellery manufacturing making jewellery, fine particles of gold and silver get accumulated in septic tanks during the chemical washing process. Over time, solid sludge containing residues of these metals settles at the bottom. Factories usually recover these by employing sanitation teams have been sent to the site and a formal investigation has been launched into the Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot criticised the BJP-led government's inaction in implementing safety measures for sanitation workers and procurement of cleaning machines. Gehlot said at least 10 sanitation workers have died in recent months while cleaning septic Reel
