One person dies after suffocating in septic tank, another in critical condition

By Radha Luitel, Phidim, July 17: One of the four workers trapped in an under-construction septic tank in Falgunanda Rural Municipality-5 of Panchthar has died of suffocation. 

Of the four workers, one died, two have regained consciousness, and one is in critical condition.

According to Rupesh Tamang, Information Officer at the District Police Office, Panchthar, three workers suffocated and fainted during the construction of a septic tank at the under-construction Ghurbise Panchami Cooperative Society building, and another person who went to their rescue also fainted.

Among those who fainted, 38-year-old Ratna Chemjong was declared dead on arrival by doctors at Ilam Hospital for treatment. 

According to the District Police Office, Panchthar, they were found unconscious at around 5:30 PM on Wednesday.

Among those trapped in the septic tank, 24-year-old Bhishma Chemjong is in critical condition. Chemjong has been taken to Birtasit Hospital in Jhapa for treatment, police said. 

40-year-old Biru Chemjong and 30-year-old Sangeet Chemjong have regained consciousness.

Police, including Assistant Sub Inspector of Police Sher Bahadur Rai, from the Phaktep police station, after receiving information, reached the incident site. Police, including locals, rescued all the fainted workers.

Rai said that rescue did not look possible after the manual efforts of security personnel and locals, and the rescue was carried out by using an excavator to build a road. 

Assistant Sub Inspector of Police Rai said that they fainted due to low oxygen levels in the septic tank, which is about 12 meters high.