Two die after inhaling toxic gases inside sewage plant

Two men, who had inhaled toxic gases after they were trapped inside a sewage treatment plant of a prominent hotel in Lutyens' Delhi on Sunday, died today at a city hospital, police said.

The sewage treatment plant of Taj Vivanta Ambassador hotel is located in the adjoining building. Five men were trapped inside the plant and inhaled poisonous gases.

They were not wearing safety gear, according to police.

Two of the victims - Vikram Singh (26), a contractual security guard of the hotel, and Ravindra Kumar (40), who worked as a contractual maintenance staff at the sewer plant run by Eco Pollutech Engineers company - succumbed today, Madhur Verma, deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), said.

The other victims - Nityanand, (51), a member of the plumbing staff at the hotel, Kamdev Patra (58), a contractual maintenance staff of Eco Pollutech Engineers, and Gaurav Sukheja (34), deputy chief engineer of the hotel, are undergoing treatment and are stated to be stable, police said.

A case under Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide punishable with a maximum term of seven years and fine) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against officials of Eco Pollutech Engineers and the hotel in connection with the incident.

Police will also be adding Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder, punishable with a maximum term of 10 years and fine) of the Indian Penal Code to the FIR, following the death of the two victims.

In a statement, Taj Vivanta Ambassador hotel spokesperson expressed condolences on the death of the two men.

"We are providing all possible support to their families and respective employers. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families to cope with this unbearable loss," he said.

Vivanta Ambassador is fully cooperating with authorities in the investigation of this incident, he added.