Greater Noida: Two workers died and the other two had narrow escape after they were asked to enter and clean up the underground tank containing petrochemicals in factory places on the site V, Kasna, on Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, the contractor who had contacted them for the job was arrested.
According to workers, they have asked Persea Safety before entering but was told it was harmless.
Around 9pm on Tuesday, Hemant’s contractor had approached four workers and asked them to clean the underground tank in Jagdamba Petroleum Private Limited.
Ravindra, one of the workers who entered the tank, said Hemant offered to pay them Rs 6,000 for the work.
“He had contacted us for such a job before, so we didn’t think this would be very dangerous.
They didn’t give us the safety equipment and the four of us only put on a cloth mask,” he said.
Usually, gear head, belts, harnesses and oxygen masks are provided for such work.
The 18-year-old worker said when they reached the place, they met with the owner of the Surendra Gupta factory which showed them tanks that had one opening on the surface.
“There was a foul smell and when we asked about it, the owner said there was no danger involved, because they had cleaned the water from the reservoir of about seven-eight times.
He said we just had to remove dirt from inside the room,” Ravindra said.
Around 9am, Pankaj (21) and Rambhesh (26) entered the tank and immediately, they fell unconscious.
“When they stopped responding to our calls, we were worried.
Ramesh and I stood next to the stairs they used to enter.
I went to check them out but I felt weak and in a minute, I ride back,” Ravindra said.
Pankaj and Rambhesh were pulled by several local people with the help of sticks after about 15 minutes.
They were taken to the Kailash Greater Noida hospital where they were declared dead.
According to the local community, Rambhesh married about one and a half years ago.
Station officers, Kasna, Sudhir Kumar said the factory received petrochemical from other places and treated it to make petroleum products, which was then distributed to the paint industry and others.
The two workers died of weakness, police officers said.
On Wednesday night, Hemant’s contractor was arrested, he added.
A fir put forward against it and the factory owner under the IPC 304 A section (death due to negligence) and 284 (with any toxic substance of action in a way that is so rash or negligent to endanger human life) after Ravindra filed a police complaint.
The factory owner cannot be contacted.
DCP (Greater Noida) Abhishek Jha said the compensation of RS 5 Lakh each will be given to the family of workers who died after the assessment by labor inspectors.