Three workers die of asphyxiation in Surat dyeing mill tank, fourth critical

Three workers died from suspected asphyxiation and a fourth remains in critical condition after entering an underground tank at the effluent treatment plant (ETP) of a dyeing mill in Gujarat’s Surat city, officials said Saturday.

The incident took place late Thursday night at Paras Print Private Limited in the Pandesara industrial area, but was reported to the police on Friday, Inspector J.R. Chaudhar said. The deceased have been identified as Sonu Paswan (23), Dilip Paswan (19), and Sandeep Paswan (23) , while Mahendra Paswan is undergoing treatment at a private hospital. All four were natives of Bihar.

According to police and hospital sources, the workers entered the underground ETP tank for cleaning accumulated waste and sludge after water was pumped out. Inside the confined space, toxic or oxygen‑deficient gases are believed to have built up , causing dizziness and loss of consciousness. One report said that one worker initially became dizzy and collapsed, prompting the others to enter the same dangerous space in an attempt to help him , only to be overcome by the hazardous atmosphere themselves.

Immediate response and rescue attempts came from mill maintenance staff, who managed to pull the workers out of the tank after considerable effort, and all four were rushed to a nearby hospital. Three of them succumbed to their injuries; one remains in critical condition.

The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), local police, and forensic officials have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the incident and whether safety protocols were followed, a spokesperson said. Their findings are awaited.

Industry safety guidelines normally require prior gas monitoring, forced ventilation, permits, and use of respirators or breathing apparatus before anyone enters such spaces. It remains unclear whether such safeguards were in place at the mill. Observers noted that workers entering a hazardous space to rescue a colleague without protective gear is a common pattern that leads to multiple casualties in industrial accidents.

The tragedy has drawn attention to longstanding concerns about industrial safety standards in Gujarat’s manufacturing hubs, where several workplace accidents have occurred in recent years. Previous incidents involving toxic gas exposure and confined‑space fatalities have prompted calls for stricter enforcement of safety protocols and better training for workers.

Authorities have registered an accidental death case and said they will review all safety records of the mill. Depending on investigation findings, accountability could extend to the mill’s management and contractors if negligence in safety compliance is established.