2 sand workers die of toxic gas

Two labourers died after inhaling toxic gas inside a pipe used for lifting sand illegally from the Nagar river at Dakkhin Chatra village in Shibganj upazila on Friday.

The deceased were Khairul Islam, 27, son of Md Golam Mostafa, and Mosharraf Hossain, 19, son of Amzad Hossain of Joypurhat's Khetlal upazila.

Farmer Nasir Uddin of the village gave work order to owner of a sand lifting machine Nazrul Khandaker and asked him to lift sand from the river for building his house.

Nazrul along with four sand workers dug a 15-feet deep hole in the river and  set a pipe that got stuck. Mosharraf went to recover the pipe and became sick after inhaling toxic gas.

Khairul went to rescue Mosharraf and became ill too. They later died on way to a hospital.

A case was filed, accusing Nazrul and Nasir for their negligence during work, said Shibganj police.