Mundka Toxic Gas Tragedy: Brother Describes Victims Collapsing One After Another

Three workers died after allegedly inhaling toxic gas inside a septic tank at a factory in the Mundka area of outer Delhi on Saturday, in a suspected case of industrial negligence that has once again highlighted unsafe confined-space cleaning practices in the capital. According to officials, the Delhi Fire Service received an emergency call from the factory at 12.03 pm reporting that three individuals were trapped inside a tank. Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the site.

Fire personnel reached the location between 12:40 and 12:45 pm, but by the time they entered the premises, all three workers had already collapsed inside the septic tank and were unresponsive. The deceased have been identified as Arun Singh (38), Sandeep Paleram (32), and Chand (42). The men were reportedly engaged in cleaning work inside the factory’s septic tank when the incident occurred. Initial information suggests that toxic gases accumulated inside the confined space, causing the workers to lose consciousness within minutes of entering the tank.

Authorities are examining whether any safety protocols were followed before the cleaning operation began. The sequence of events was described in detail by Arun Singh’s elder brother, Narendra, who said the workers entered the tank in quick succession. He alleged that the first worker who went inside began experiencing distress, prompting the other two to enter in an attempt to rescue him. However, they too succumbed to the toxic environment shortly after entering. “They went one after another and collapsed inside,” he was quoted as saying, according to ANI, underscoring the rapid and deadly nature of the exposure.

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Family members of the deceased have strongly criticised the working conditions at the site, alleging negligence and lack of basic safety equipment. They claimed that none of the workers were provided with protective gear such as gas masks, oxygen cylinders, or safety harnesses, which are essential for confined-space entry work. Relatives have demanded a thorough investigation and accountability from both the factory management and any contractors involved in assigning the cleaning task.

Preliminary assessments suggest that the deaths were likely caused by exposure to poisonous gases commonly found in poorly ventilated septic tanks, such as methane and hydrogen sulphide. In enclosed spaces, these gases can reach lethal concentrations within minutes, causing sudden unconsciousness and death if proper ventilation and protective measures are not in place. Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, including whether legal safety standards for hazardous manual work were violated. Officials may also examine whether workers were employed through contractors and whether mandatory safety clearances were obtained before the cleaning operation began.

The incident adds to a long-standing concern over hazardous manual scavenging and septic tank cleaning practices in India, where repeated fatalities have been reported despite regulations aimed at preventing such deaths. In many cases, lack of enforcement, inadequate equipment, and informal hiring practices continue to put workers at severe risk. As investigations proceed, the families of the deceased are awaiting compensation and answers, while activists and local residents have renewed calls for stricter implementation of safety laws to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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