Silchar: Four people died of suspected asphyxiation inside an underground water tank on Silchar’s outskirts on Saturday.Police detained house owner Gautam Paul.The incident occurred at a newly constructed house in Arunachal Kumarpara. Police said one worker entered the tank to clean it but failed to return. Three others entered one after another to rescue him, but all four apparently lost consciousness because of toxic gases or oxygen depletion.A social activist entered the tank and retrieved the bodies before emergency responders arrived.Police and State Disaster Response Force personnel reached the spot and began an investigation. The bodies were sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for autopsies.The deceased were identified as Niloy Paul (43), Champu Paul (40), Debashis Paul (41) and Nandan Paul (53). All were residents of Arunachal Kumarpara.Cachar additional SP (Crime) Rajat Kumar Pal said, “We are investigating the incident. The precise cause of death will be known after the post-mortem report is received.”
