Assam: Four die while cleaning water tank in Cachar; RSS worker retrieves bodies

Four people died after allegedly inhaling toxic gas while cleaning an underground water tank at a newly constructed house in Kumarpara under the Barkhola Assembly constituency in Assam’s Cachar district, police said.

The incident occurred in the Machimpur area when the house owner reportedly hired three labourers to clean the water tank. The first worker entered the tank but soon fell unconscious. Two other workers went inside one after another in an attempt to rescue him, but they too reportedly lost consciousness.

After the three workers failed to return, another person entered the tank to check on them and also collapsed, according to local accounts.

The deceased have been identified as Niloy Pal, Debashish Pal, Nandan Pal and Sampu Pal.

On receiving information, Cachar district police, including the DSP (Crime), along with SDRF, NDRF and other officials, rushed to the spot. An investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of the deaths.

Before the arrival of the SDRF team, local RSS worker Dibyendu Das reportedly risked his life and entered the tank to retrieve all four bodies. Residents said toxic gas was still present inside the tank during the rescue operation.

The deaths have triggered widespread grief in Kumarpara and surrounding areas, with several shops remaining closed as a mark of mourning. The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the entire locality.