Jaipur: Four men died late Monday night after inhaling toxic fumes inside a septic tank at a jewellery manufacturing unit in Jaipur’s Sitapura Industrial Area, police confirmed on Tuesday.

The deceased were identified as Sanjeev Pal, Himanshu Singh, Rohit Pal, and Arpit Yadav. Two other workers—Ajay Chauhan and Rajpal—remain in critical condition at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, while Amit Pal and Suraj Pal were discharged after receiving primary care.

The incident took place at a factory operated by Achal Jewelers Private Limited in G-Block of the Jewellery Zone. Initial reports suggest that workers initially hesitated to enter the 10-foot-deep tank due to extreme heat and the presence of toxic gases. However, the factory management allegedly persuaded them with the promise of extra payment.

Police sources stated that the tank contained chemical sludge used in jewellery production, potentially holding trace particles of gold and silver—valuable residue often extracted during scheduled clean-ups. Amit and Rohit, the first to descend, began gasping and shouting for help, prompting six others to follow in an attempt to rescue them. All reportedly lost consciousness shortly thereafter.

Taking suo moto cognisance, the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission issued notices to the Jaipur District Collector and Police Commissioner, calling for immediate action and an investigative report. The Commission also directed Achal Jewelers’ owner Arun Kumar Kothari and CEO Vikas Mehta to compensate the families of the deceased and submit a compliance report.

Justice G R Moolchandani, chairperson of the Commission, underscored the need for urgent accountability and financial support to the victims’ families.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the incident and criticised the state government for failing to implement its promise of mechanised sanitation announced in the budget. He claimed that 11 sanitation workers have died in the past 10 days in separate incidents across Deeg, Bikaner, and Jaipur.

Authorities are currently investigating potential violations of labour and safety laws.
(With PTI inputs)