PUDUCHERRY: Three people — including a mother-daughter duo and a 16-year-old girl — died of asphyxiation after inhaling toxic gas that leaked from underground sewer lines connected to their houses at Reddiarpalayam in Puducherry on Tuesday morning.
The deceased are Senthamarai (80), her daughter Kamatchi (45), and a class 11 student A Selvarani (16).Police said toxic gas emanated from the underground sewer lines connecting the houses with the sewage treatment plant in the town limits and leaked through the restrooms.
On entering the restroom, Senthamarai lost consciousness after inhaling the toxic gas. Senthamarai’s granddaughter Bakkialakshmi (28), who was near the toilet, was also rendered unconscious by the poisonous gas, police said.
In another house in the locality, Selvarani was found unconscious on the washroom floor by her brother and grandfather.
Their neighbour, Balakrishnan (70) also fainted after inhaling toxic gas. Residents rushed the five to Indira Gandhi GMCH where doctors declared Senthamarai, Kamatchi and Selvarani dead. Bakkialakshmi and Balakrishnan are under treatment.
As news spread, panic gripped the locality. PWD officials accompanied by firefighters reached the spot and instructed residents on 4th cross, Pudhu Nagar, to vacate their houses and shift to a temporary shelter established by govt. The district administration arranged food for more than 2,000 people. A team from public health laboratory, department of food and drugs collected the gas sample in the locality and sent it for testing to central forensic science laboratory in Hyderabad.
Chief minister N Rangasamy, Congress MP V Vaithilingam and leader of the opposition R Siva visited the locality and consoled the family members of the victims. Rangasamy announced a solatium of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of Senthamarai and Kamatchi and Rs 30 lakh for Selvarani’s kin.
After a meeting with officials, the CM said underground drains have been laid in the territory and the process of connecting houses with underground drainage systems was in full swing. Territorial officials have launched efforts to prevent leak of toxic gas from the underground sewer lines not only in Reddiarpalayam but the entire territory, he said, adding that he had directed the district collector and PWD officials to probe the tragedy and submit a report. Govt would take appropriate action based on findings of the probe.
CPI state council member A Devasagayam said the contractor engaged to operate the sewage treatment plant did not pay the workers after govt failed to release its payment, following which they boycotted work. “The plant was not functioning for the past four days leading to accumulation of toxic gas in the sewer lines connected to houses at Reddiarpalayam. It is the failure on the part of govt, contractor, and workers that led to the death of three innocent people,” said Devasagayam, claiming that the party has given several representations to public works minister and officials, urging them to initiate efforts to prevent bad odour emanating from the sewer lines.
The deceased are Senthamarai (80), her daughter Kamatchi (45), and a class 11 student A Selvarani (16).Police said toxic gas emanated from the underground sewer lines connecting the houses with the sewage treatment plant in the town limits and leaked through the restrooms.
On entering the restroom, Senthamarai lost consciousness after inhaling the toxic gas. Senthamarai’s granddaughter Bakkialakshmi (28), who was near the toilet, was also rendered unconscious by the poisonous gas, police said.
In another house in the locality, Selvarani was found unconscious on the washroom floor by her brother and grandfather.
Their neighbour, Balakrishnan (70) also fainted after inhaling toxic gas. Residents rushed the five to Indira Gandhi GMCH where doctors declared Senthamarai, Kamatchi and Selvarani dead. Bakkialakshmi and Balakrishnan are under treatment.
As news spread, panic gripped the locality. PWD officials accompanied by firefighters reached the spot and instructed residents on 4th cross, Pudhu Nagar, to vacate their houses and shift to a temporary shelter established by govt. The district administration arranged food for more than 2,000 people. A team from public health laboratory, department of food and drugs collected the gas sample in the locality and sent it for testing to central forensic science laboratory in Hyderabad.
Chief minister N Rangasamy, Congress MP V Vaithilingam and leader of the opposition R Siva visited the locality and consoled the family members of the victims. Rangasamy announced a solatium of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of Senthamarai and Kamatchi and Rs 30 lakh for Selvarani’s kin.
After a meeting with officials, the CM said underground drains have been laid in the territory and the process of connecting houses with underground drainage systems was in full swing. Territorial officials have launched efforts to prevent leak of toxic gas from the underground sewer lines not only in Reddiarpalayam but the entire territory, he said, adding that he had directed the district collector and PWD officials to probe the tragedy and submit a report. Govt would take appropriate action based on findings of the probe.
CPI state council member A Devasagayam said the contractor engaged to operate the sewage treatment plant did not pay the workers after govt failed to release its payment, following which they boycotted work. “The plant was not functioning for the past four days leading to accumulation of toxic gas in the sewer lines connected to houses at Reddiarpalayam. It is the failure on the part of govt, contractor, and workers that led to the death of three innocent people,” said Devasagayam, claiming that the party has given several representations to public works minister and officials, urging them to initiate efforts to prevent bad odour emanating from the sewer lines.