Mumbai: Four Workers Suffocate to Death While Cleaning Water Tank of Under-Construction Building

Four workers died of suffocation while cleaning a water tank in an under-construction building in Mumbai’s Nagpada area on Sunday. A fifth worker was hospitalized and is undergoing treatment.

The incident took place at around 12:29 pm at the Bismillah Space building on Mint Road. According to officials, five contractual laborers were inside the water tank when they fainted due to suffocation.

The deceased have been identified as Hasibul Shaikh (19), Raja Shaikh (20), Jiaulla Shaikh (36), and Imandar Shaikh (38). The injured worker, Butan Shaikh (31), has been admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Following the incident, the JJ Marg police registered an accidental death report (ADR). The victims’ families have alleged that the workers were not provided with proper safety equipment.

Senior police officials stated that the water tank had been non-functional for several years. “The Akbar Nirban Group was overseeing the construction work at the site. We are investigating whether the workers were given safety gear,” a senior police inspector said.

While there was no water in the tank, authorities suspect the presence of poisonous gases may have led to suffocation. “The tank was 10 feet long and 13 feet wide,” the officer added.​