Hazaribagh, May 27: A tragic incident occurred late Tuesday night in the Kud Basti area of Hazaribagh district, where three members of the same family lost their lives due to toxic gas exposure. One other family member is in critical condition.
Reports indicate that the incident happened while the family was involved in the illegal production of mahua liquor. A toxic gas-filled tank was the source of the tragedy. The entire area is now engulfed in mourning.
The deceased have been identified as 50-year-old Badki Devi, her brother-in-law Mahendra Saw, 45, and her 25-year-old son Ravi Kumar. Meanwhile, Badki Devi’s husband, Anand Saw, 55, is seriously ill and is currently receiving treatment at Hazaribagh Medical College Hospital.
Local residents revealed that the affected family had been engaged in the mahua liquor business for a long time. Recently, they had constructed a new safety tank to ferment the mahua. On Tuesday night, Badki Devi was the first to descend into the tank to extract the fermented mahua. When she did not return for a considerable time, her family members grew concerned.
Mahendra Saw went into the tank to check on her but also failed to come out. Following this, Ravi Kumar descended to look for his mother and uncle, but he too succumbed to the toxic gas and lost consciousness. Eventually, Anand Saw entered the tank in search of his family and also became unconscious due to the gas.
As time passed without anyone emerging from the tank, panic spread among the family and nearby residents. Villagers managed to pull all four from the tank, but by then, Badki Devi, Mahendra Saw, and Ravi Kumar had already passed away. Anand Saw was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the stagnant mahua in the sealed tank generated methane and other toxic gases. A lack of oxygen and the presence of these gases caused all four individuals to lose consciousness. Upon receiving the report, police from the Katkamdag station arrived at the scene and sent the three bodies for post-mortem examinations. Authorities are investigating the entire incident and are also probing the illegal liquor production network.
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