Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Apr 28: A fatal industrial accident at an ethanol manufacturing unit near Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district has left one migrant worker dead and four others in critical condition after they were exposed to toxic gas inside a storage tank during cleaning work.

The incident occurred at a private facility in Thervoy Kandigai, where workers had been assigned routine maintenance of a confined water tank inside the ethanol unit.

The deceased has been identified as Dhananjay Mali from Odisha. According to officials, he collapsed inside the tank after inhaling hazardous fumes. In a desperate rescue attempt, four co-workers entered the tank one after another but also lost consciousness due to the toxic environment.

Emergency responders from the Fire and Rescue Services were deployed immediately and managed to extract all five workers after a difficult operation. While Mali was declared dead at the scene, the remaining four workers were rushed to Tiruvallur Government Hospital, where they are undergoing intensive care in critical condition.

Preliminary findings suggest that toxic gases had accumulated inside the tank, likely due to fermentation residues and poor ventilation. Authorities are also investigating whether mandatory safety protocols—such as protective equipment and gas detection measures—were followed before workers were allowed to enter the confined space.

The case is being probed by the Labour Department and local police to determine possible negligence and violations of industrial safety regulations.

The tragedy has once again highlighted concerns over workplace safety in hazardous industrial environments, particularly those involving migrant labourers.