Four Dead, One Critical After Ujjain Hotel Chamber Accident
Four people lost their lives and another was left in critical condition after a chamber accident at a hotel in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The accident happened when workers entered a tank for cleaning and were exposed to poisonous gas. Three policemen were injured while helping in the rescue effort.
The incident occurred at Hotel Sriganga, which is considered among the oldest hotels in the city. It happened on Saturday night during the cleaning of a tank. Officials said workers who went into the chamber were affected by toxic gas. Two of those who died were hotel staff members, and two were private sanitation workers.
The Collector, the Superintendent of Police and the administration responded quickly after the incident came to light. Rescue teams faced major obstacles. A tin shed over the additional chamber was cut open with a cutter, and the recovery work went on for about two and a half hours. Only after that could the bodies be taken out.
The families of the victims were visibly angry. They demanded strict action against the hotel operator and sought Rs 1 crore in compensation for each family. They also requested government jobs for the families.
Asif Khan, a local youth, said he received a late-night call around 12 o'clock informing him that his uncle had fallen into the tank. After reaching the site, he found that his uncle had died. He said the uncle had gone to the hotel to earn extra money through overtime work. The uncle had four children and had been living in a rented house in the area for four years. Khan appealed for fair compensation for the family.
Another youth alleged carelessness by the hotel. According to him, the workers were not told how large the chamber was and were asked only to remove waste. He said his brother lost his footing and fell into the chamber, where he died. He wants one family member to be given a job and Rs 1 crore paid as compensation.
Mayor Mukesh Tatwal visited the bereaved families after the incident and expressed deep sorrow. He promised them all possible support. The Mayor said the cleaning of the hotel's waste tank had taken place without informing the Municipal Corporation and without following safety standards, which he described as a serious lapse.
He directed officials to carry out a prompt inquiry. He said the harshest punitive action would be taken against any hotel operator or businessman who had engaged workers for such cleaning without proper safety arrangements. He also instructed the administration to ensure the rehabilitation and proper aid of the affected families.