Chennai: A 27-year-old daily wage labourer died and a plumber was hospitalised after inhaling toxic gas from a septic tank at an apartment complex in Pallikaranai on Monday night.Police said sewage was overflowing at an apartment complex on Veerasamy Street, Second Main Road, Vivekananda Nagar, because the pipeline to the septic tank was blocked. House owner R Aishwarya, 39, approached Rajesh, who lived opposite the apartment, on Monday morning to clear the blockage, and he agreed to fix the problem after work.Rajesh brought Kesavan to assist him. When Rajesh opened the septic tank cover and bent down to inspect the pipeline, he inhaled toxic gas, lost consciousness and fell into the tank. Kesavan rushed to his rescue, and he too fell into the tank. Residents alerted police and fire and rescue services, who retrieved both men. Kesavan was found dead, and Rajesh was rushed to a private hospital, where he is being treated.Kesavan’s body was sent to Chromepet Government Hospital for postmortem. Police said the duo had no experience in septic tank cleaning and did not use safety gear.Pallikaranai police registered a case against Aishwarya on charges of endangering life and personal safety and causing death by negligence.
