A tragic incident occurred in Anwarpur village of Hajipur, Bihar, where four members of a single family lost their lives while cleaning a septic tank. The event took place on Sunday afternoon when one person fell into the 15-year-old tank, and others died while attempting a chain rescue. Toxic gases such as methane and carbon monoxide inside the unventilated pit led to immediate suffocation of the victims.
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How did the tragedy happen?
The incident began when 18-year-old Priyanshu Kumar was attempting to remove water from the old tank and accidentally fell inside. In a desperate attempt to save him, his uncle Rahul Kumar jumped in, followed by Anand and Pankaj Kumar. Within minutes, all four became unconscious due to the lack of oxygen and the presence of lethal hydrogen sulfide. The fire department eventually used oxygen masks and safety ropes to bring them out, but doctors at Sadar Hospital declared them dead on arrival.
Details of the victims and survivors
The tragedy has left the local community in shock, especially since one of the victims, Rahul Kumar, had been married just five days earlier on February 24. The family lost three brothers and one grandson in this single accident. While four people died, three others were injured during the rescue attempts and are currently receiving treatment.
| Name of Deceased | Age | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Anand Kumar | 46 | Eldest Son of Shivji Sah |
| Pankaj Kumar | 39 | Middle Son of Shivji Sah |
| Rahul Kumar | 24 | Youngest Son (Newlywed) |
| Priyanshu Kumar | 18 | Grandson of Shivji Sah |
Official response and safety warnings
SDM Rambabu Baitha and SDPO Gopal Mandal visited the site to monitor the situation and assured the family of government compensation as per disaster relief norms. Authorities have issued a public warning regarding the cleaning of private septic tanks, noting that tanks without proper ventilation for at least 24 hours become oxygen-depleted death traps. The district administration has initiated a formal inquiry into the matter while the village remains in mourning.
