Angul: Three workers died after falling unconscious under mysterious circumstances inside an industrial plant in Odisha’s Angul district last night, with preliminary suspicion pointing to extreme heat and pollution exposure.

The incident took place in the Paranga area under the Nisha Police limits in the Chhendipada block. The cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed.

According to reports, around 8:30 pm on Monday, six workers were engaged near a boiler plant within the factory premises. During the process, three of them suddenly collapsed and were found lying unconscious.

The critically ill workers were rushed towards Cuttack for treatment. However, all three died near Hindol while being shifted to the hospital. Their bodies have been kept at a hospital in Hindol.

The deceased have been identified as Mangal Majhi, Pintu Kumar, and Sridhar Bagei, all residents of Sundargarh district.

Police have reached the spot and initiated an investigation into the incident. Officials said a post-mortem will be conducted after the arrival of family members.

Initial suspicion suggests that excessive heat and high levels of pollution inside the plant may have led to suffocation, resulting in the deaths. However, authorities said the exact cause will be determined only after a detailed probe.