A heartbreaking incident took place in Outer Delhi’s Nangloi area on Saturday evening, leading to the death of a factory owner and his son. The tragedy occurred at a pickle-making unit in Rao Vihar when the victims inhaled toxic gases inside a fermentation well. They had entered the deep tank to rescue a laborer who had collapsed moments earlier. Police have registered a case and are investigating the safety standards at the unit.
How did the rescue attempt turn fatal?
The factory operated from the ground floor of a residential building where the owner’s family lived upstairs. According to reports, a laborer entered a 10-foot-deep well used for processing pickles and fainted due to suspected toxic gas buildup. Seeing him in distress, the owner, 60-year-old Anil, jumped in to help.
When Anil did not respond, his sons Neeraj and Sandeep entered the well sequentially to save them. Unfortunately, the lack of oxygen and presence of fumes overcame them as well. Local residents and Anil’s brother eventually managed to pull all four men out, but the delay proved fatal for Anil and his eldest son, Neeraj.
What are the authorities saying about the incident?
DCP Outer Delhi, Vikram Singh, confirmed that the victims were rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital. Doctors declared Anil and Neeraj brought dead, while Sandeep and the laborer remain under treatment in stable condition. The police suspect that gases like Carbon Dioxide or Hydrogen Sulfide, which can form in fermentation pits, caused the suffocation.
Officials are now verifying if the factory had the necessary permits to run in a residential locality. Forensic teams have been called to examine the site. The police are also checking if any safety equipment, like breathing apparatus or ropes, was available for such hazardous tasks.
