KARACHI: Four industrial workers died of inhaling toxic gases in an underground tank inside a Bin Qasim textile factory off National Highway on Monday evening, officials said.

The incident prompted Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani to order an inquiry into the incident as police said no safety measures were taken to cover the underground water tank.

Malir SSP Irfan Bahadur said that an in charge of the factory accidentally fell in the open underground water tank and became unconscious after inhaling toxic fumes. Three other workers tried to rescue him but they too fell unconscious and died, he said.

They were identified as Mohammed Imran, 37, Sheeraz, 19, Ghulam Husain, 35, and Shaharyar, 37.

Two KPT labourers die after falling into manhole

The police said Imran and Sheeraz were in charge and shift in charge of the factory, respectively. The incident took place at Artistic Millennia Unit No 5, Bin Qasim, Landhi.

The bodies were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre to fulfil medico-legal formalities.

Additional Police Surgeon at JPMC Dr Summaiya Syed said all the four workers died of inhaling toxic fumes.

The SSP said that no safety measures were taken to cover the underground water tank that resulted in the tragedy. He said the police were investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, Minister Ghani ordered an inquiry into the incident directing the labour secretary labour to furnish an immediate report about the cause of the incident and fixing its responsibility.

While expressing his sorrow over the loss of lives, he vowed to take action against those found responsible.

Two die after falling into manhole

Two wage-earners of the Karachi Port Trust died after falling in a manhole in Keamari on Monday.

Jackson SHO Arshad Janjua said that a worker was trying to clean the manhole at the KPT Berth-12 when he slipped and fell in it. Another person tried to rescue him but he also fell in the gutter.

They were stuck in the silt and died of inhaling toxic fumes before arrival of rescue workers.

The bodies were shifted to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi for completing medico-legal formalities.

The officer said the deceased identified as Arjun Chawla and Ashraf Baloch. They were wage earners at the KPT.

Man, son crushed to death by train

A man and his son were crushed to death by a train and his two other sons were badly injured in the Bin Qasim area on Monday.

Area SHO Imran Afridi said that Abdul Ghafoor, 40, along with his three sons — Munir, 12, Tanveer, 9, and Naseer, 8 — tried to cross the tracks but they were hit by a train. As a result, Ghafoor and his son Tanveer died on the spot, he added.

The officer said Munir and Naseer survived the accident, but they were badly wounded and it appeared they could not move.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2022