Accident – Three Workers Die After Entering Effluent Tank at Surat Dyeing Mill

Accident – Three workers lost their lives after reportedly suffocating inside an underground tank at a textile dyeing facility in Surat, Gujarat. The incident occurred while the workers were cleaning an effluent treatment plant (ETP) tank at a factory located in the Pandesara industrial area. Another worker who entered the tank along with them remains in critical condition and is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital.

Incident Reported From Pandesara Industrial Area

According to local police officials, the accident took place on Thursday night at Paras Print Private Limited, a dyeing mill operating in Surat’s Pandesara industrial zone. The matter came to the notice of authorities on Friday after the victims were taken to a hospital.

Preliminary information suggests that four workers had gone inside the underground effluent tank for routine cleaning work. Soon after entering the confined space, all of them reportedly lost consciousness. Co-workers present at the site immediately arranged to take them to a nearby hospital for medical assistance.

Three Workers Declared Dead at Hospital

Police officials confirmed that three of the workers could not be saved. They were identified as Sonu Paswan, aged 23, Dilip Paswan, aged 19, and Sandeep Paswan, aged 23. Doctors declared them dead shortly after they were brought to the hospital.

Another worker, Mahendra Paswan, who was also inside the tank during the incident, survived but remains in a serious condition. He is currently undergoing treatment at a private medical facility, and doctors are closely monitoring his health.

Inspector JR Chaudhar from the local police station said that all four workers became unconscious shortly after entering the effluent tank. They were quickly transported to the hospital, but three of them had already succumbed by the time medical staff assessed them.

Victims Were Migrant Workers From Bihar

Police said that the deceased workers, as well as the injured worker, were originally from Bihar and had been working at the textile processing unit in Surat. Like many migrant labourers employed in the region’s textile sector, they were engaged in industrial maintenance and cleaning work at the facility.

Surat is one of India’s major textile hubs, and the Pandesara industrial area houses several dyeing and processing units that rely heavily on migrant labour. Industrial safety measures, especially during maintenance of chemical and wastewater systems, have often been highlighted as an important concern in such facilities.

Authorities Begin Investigation Into Cause

Following the incident, officials from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and forensic teams have begun an inquiry to determine the exact circumstances that led to the workers losing consciousness. The primary suspicion is that the workers may have inhaled toxic gases or suffered from oxygen deficiency inside the confined tank, though the final cause will be confirmed only after the investigation report is completed.

Authorities have collected samples and other relevant evidence from the site as part of the examination process. The investigation will also review whether proper safety protocols were followed before workers were asked to enter the tank for cleaning.

Focus on Industrial Safety Measures

Police officials stated that further action will depend on the findings of the forensic and pollution control authorities. If any violation of industrial safety regulations is found, legal action may be initiated against those responsible.

The incident has once again drawn attention to safety procedures required during maintenance of effluent treatment plants and other enclosed industrial structures, where the presence of toxic gases or low oxygen levels can pose serious risks to workers.

For now, authorities are waiting for the detailed investigation report, which is expected to clarify the precise cause of the tragedy.