Ten labourers drowned to death Saturday when an effluent treatment tank burst in Tamil Nadu's Ranipet town, an official said.
"Nine of the dead hail from West Bengal and one person is from Ranipet. All were sleeping (in a room) near the CETP (common effluent treatment plant) tank.
"The tank burst around 3.30 a.m today (Saturday) and they drowned to death," an official told IANS.
Officials said the workers who were asleep in a room adjacent to the CETP drowned in the thick slimy effluent. Ranipet is about 120 km from here.
The unit was operating the CETP for 86 tanneries.
According to police, two people are undergoing treatment at a government hospital.