Six die of asphyxiation in a septic tank in Bihar's east Champaran

Six people, including four of a family, died of asphyxiation after entering an under-construction septic tank in East Champaran district on Thursday morning.

Police said the incident took place at Jeetpur village in Jitna police station area of the district, about 225 km north of the state capital Patna.

Jitna police station SHO Diwakar Kumar said Mohan Mahato fell unconscious after entering the septic tank to inspect the construction work.

“When he did not return after some time, his father, mother, a brother and two villagers jumped into the tank one by one to save Mohan Mahto. All of them fell unconscious in the tank and were rushed to the primary health centre (PHC) at Chauradano block of the district, where they were declared “brought dead”, the station house officer (SHO) said.

Apart from Mohan, the other victims had been identified as his father Dinesh Mahato, mother Bachchi Devi, brother Basant Mahato and two villagers Sachin Mukhiya and Saroj Mahato, the SHO added.

“The bodies have been sent for the postmortem examination,” subdivisional police officer Alok Kumar said and added that the exact cause of death would be known only after getting the report.

Meanwhile, angered by the absence of doctors at the PHC, the villages blocked the main road at Chauradano by placing the bodies for hours.

“Had the doctors been present at the PHC, the life of at least the life of one person could have been saved,” said Sanjay Mahato, a villager. There were no arrangement for an ambulence and the victims were left unattended in such an emergency, he said.

The blockade was lifted only after the district administration officials assured all possible help to the victims’ families.

First Published: Aug 10, 2018 14:36 IST