What Happened to the Four Workers in Jaipur's Septic Tank?

Jaipur, May 27 (NationPress) In a heartbreaking industrial incident, four workers tragically lost their lives while another four were injured due to exposure to toxic gas inside a septic tank during the extraction of gold and silver particles at Achal Jewels Pvt Ltd, situated in the Sitapura Industrial Area of Rajasthan's capital, Jaipur, as confirmed by officials on Tuesday.

Currently, two workers are in critical condition and receiving treatment at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, while two others have been discharged after initial medical assistance.

The unfortunate event took place on Monday within the company’s premises located in G-Block of the Jewellery Zone, under the jurisdiction of the Sanganer Sadar Police Station. Eight workers entered a 10-foot deep tank to retrieve residual gold and silver particles.

Achal Jewels is run by Arun Kumar Kothari from Bapu Nagar, Jaipur, specializing in jewellery exports under the guidance of CEO Vikas Mehta. The bodies of the deceased have been taken to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, while the unconscious survivors, Ajay Chauhan and Rajpal, are currently receiving care at RUHS Hospital, according to officials.

Reports indicate the tragedy began when one worker became unconscious after entering the 10-foot-deep tank, which contained chemical residues along with gold and silver particles.

As the others attempted a rescue, they too succumbed to the toxic fumes. A total of eight workers were involved in the incident.

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has been summoned to investigate, although the exact type of gas has not yet been identified.

The ADM South, SDM Sanganer, and the tehsildars from Sanganer quickly arrived at the site to monitor the situation. Sources suggest the original sanitation staff had refused to enter the tank due to a strong, harmful odor.

It is claimed the company incentivized other workers to take on the task by offering extra pay beyond their regular salaries.

All affected workers were migrant laborers hailing from the Sultanpur and Ambedkar Nagar districts of Uttar Pradesh. They had been working at Achal Jewels since 2023 through a contractor named Mukesh Pal, whose brother was among the deceased. All workers reportedly resided in Govardhan Nagar, Sitapura.

Authorities have initiated a formal investigation into the incident, looking into potential breaches of labor safety regulations and claims of negligence by the company and contractor. Officials are also assessing the factory’s emergency response protocols and safety measures for employees.