Two workers died after allegedly inhaling toxic gases inside a sewage treatment plant (STP) tank at a residential housing society in Greater Noida on Sunday, 26 July, police confirmed. The victims have been identified as sanitation worker Shashikant Sharma and security guard Akash, both of whom lost consciousness while inside the confined space.

How the Incident Unfolded

The tragedy occurred at Eldeco Society, Sector 150, under the jurisdiction of the Knowledge Park police station. According to police, Shashikant Sharma entered the STP tank as part of a routine cleaning operation and collapsed after inhaling toxic fumes. Security guard Akash, witnessing Sharma fall unconscious, entered the tank in an attempt to rescue him — and also lost consciousness.

Police and fire department personnel rushed to the site after receiving information about the incident and launched a rescue operation. Both men were extracted from the tank and rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

Contractor Arrested, Investigation Under Way

Police have registered a case and arrested the contractor responsible for the cleaning work. According to the Knowledge Park Police, further legal proceedings are being pursued. Investigators are examining whether adequate safety equipment — including protective gear and gas detection devices — had been provided to the workers before they entered the confined space. Authorities are also scrutinising compliance with prescribed safety norms for maintenance work at sewage treatment facilities.

Second Fatality in the Same Area Within Days

This incident follows another fatal accident under the same police station's jurisdiction. Avyaan Surya, a six-year-old boy, died after falling into a nearly 15-foot-deep water-filled pit at Kala Dham Society. In the aftermath, the Greater Noida Authority registered an FIR against the contractor and two supervisors, terminated their services, and noted that the borewell location had allegedly been shifted without its approval. The child's death had triggered widespread outrage among residents, who accused authorities of negligence.

Growing Calls for Safety Accountability

The two back-to-back fatalities have intensified scrutiny of safety lapses at work and construction sites across Greater Noida. Residents are demanding stricter enforcement of safety regulations and greater accountability from contractors and housing societies. Notably, deaths from toxic gas inhalation in confined spaces — particularly STP and sewage tanks — are a recurring hazard across urban India, often linked to the absence of basic safety protocols and the engagement of workers without adequate training or equipment.

With the contractor in custody, investigators are expected to determine whether the housing society's management also bears liability for the failure to ensure a safe working environment.