A worker involved in de-clogging a sump at SIPCOT Ranipet died after he accidentally fell into it on Thursday.
Police said that whether he died after being trapped inside the sump or was asphyxiated will be known after post mortem.
According to Ranipet police, Jagan, aged about 35 years, was a daily wage labourer residing at Emerald Nagar, Ranipet. He accompanied Firoze, a plumber, to SIPCOT two days ago to de-clog pipeline carrying water from toilets of a leather manufacturing company. They had cleared the blocks then and were called on Thursday after the problem occurred again.
The pipeline was connected to a sump, seven feet deep. There was water for nearly two feet in it. “A block had occurred again in the line affecting the flow of water into the sump. The duo was attending to it. Jagan was standing on top of the sump on a pipeline and was trying to clear the block using a rod. The pipe broke under his weight and he fell inside,” a police officer said.
The space inside the sump was too small and the presence of water would have added to the problem. “Jagan died as he was caught inside the sump and could not get up. Whether he was asphyxiated due to presence of gas inside the sump will be known after medical examination,” he added.
The incident occurred at 3.30 p.m.
Following this, relatives of Jagan staged a protest. However, police personnel rushed to the spot and pacified them. The body was sent to the Government Hospital, Walajapet for post mortem. Police have registered a case.
