Two die inhaling toxic gas

Two people, including a construction worker, died after inhaling toxic gas inside a septic tank in Gafargaon upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Humayun Mia, 33, son of housemaster Abdul Mannan, and Himel Mia, 32, son of Siraj Uddin of Kurchai village in the upazila.

Four other coworkers--Sharif Mia, 27, Mazharul Islam, 18, Altaf Hossain, 33, and Morshed Sarker, 22, of the same village--also fell sick while trying to save the duo.

Quoting locals, Officer in Charge of Pagla Police Station Shahinuzzaman Khan said one of the workers Morshed entered into an under construction septic tank adjacent to an older one at Mannan's house to remove it's wooden frame yesterday noon and went fainted after inhaling toxic gas inside the tank.

Later, Mannan's son Humayun and four other coworkers also fell unconscious when they entered into the tank to rescue Morshed, he added.

Later, neighbours rescued them and took them to nearby clinics and Sreepur Upazila Health Complex where the doctors declared Humayun and Himel.