Four students died and another was injured after they were exposed to suspected toxic gas while cleaning an underground water tank at Maharshi Panini Sanskrit Gurukulam in Vrindavan’s Chaitanya Vihar, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident took place after a foul smell was detected from the tank, which was around 12 to 14 feet deep. The students first used a motor to drain the water. When some water remained, one student entered the tank to clean it but became unconscious.
Four other students entered the tank in an attempt to rescue him, but all five lost consciousness. People at the spot later pulled them out and took them to the district hospital.
Four students, aged between 17 and 20, died in the incident, while the fifth student survived and was referred for further treatment and monitoring.Officials said he was conscious and able to speak.
The gurukulam is run by Ashish Kumar Sharma of Madhya Pradesh and has around 200 students enrolled, with nearly 100 currently staying on the premises, according to District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh.
Singh said a magisterial inquiry would be conducted to determine how the incident occurred, whether the institution had the required recognition and under what circumstances the students were asked to clean the tank.
Authorities are also examining CCTV footage from the premises. Police said further legal action would depend on the complaints filed by the families of the deceased.
Officials said other gurukulams in the area would also be audited and their buildings inspected to help prevent similar incidents.
(With agency inputs from ANI)
