Bhawanipatna: In a tragic incident, six persons died of suspected asphyxiation inside an under-construction septic tank in Odisha’s Kalahandi district on Tuesday.

The mishap occurred at Karlakhunta village under Madanpur Rampur police limits while the centring-related work of the tank was underway. According to preliminary information, the incident took place during the removal of the centring from the septic tank.

As per reports, a worker first entered the tank and soon experienced difficulties in breathing. As he was unable to come out, six others entered the tank one after another in an attempt to rescue him. However, they too reportedly became unconscious inside the tank.

Locals later rescued all of them and rushed them to a nearby hospital. Doctors declared six of them dead on arrival at the Madanpur Rampur Hospital.

As many as four workers, the owner of the house and his son are among the deceased. They have been identified as Nimai Pal (48) of Karlakhunta village, his son Akash Pal (28), Adal Majhi (55), Manoranjan Hati (27) of Matoganda village, and Chhanda Jal and Bipul Jal of Duta village.

Another person, who became critically ill in the incident, was initially admitted to the Madanpur Rampur Hospital for treatment and later shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital as his condition deteriorated. He was identified as Pankaj Bhoi (32) of Hatikhoj village.

Police reached the spot after receiving information and launched an investigation into the incident. The exact cause of death was yet to be confirmed, though initial reports suggest suffocation due to toxic gas accumulation inside the septic tank led to the deaths.

Expressing grief over the incident, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.