Toxic Gas Kills Four Cleaners at Ujjain Hotel; Relief Announced

A tragic accident at a private hotel in Ujjain has claimed four lives. The workers died after being overcome by toxic gas while cleaning a food waste tank. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced Rs 4 lakh in financial assistance for each of the families affected.

Chief Minister Yadav posted on X that news of the four deaths during chamber cleaning at a private hotel in Ujjain was deeply distressing. He offered condolences to the mourning families and said the state government had instructed that Rs 4 lakh be given to the family of each deceased worker. He also prayed that Baba Mahakal give the departed a place at his divine feet and grant the families the strength to bear their grief.

Ujjain MP Anil Firozia shared his sorrow as well. In a post on X, he said the untimely deaths of four cleaning staff from exposure to poisonous gas during work at a private hotel on Devas Road were shocking and tragic. He wrote that four families had lost their dear ones and that the irreparable loss had deeply pained him.

Firoziya further wrote that his deep sympathy was with the grieving families. He prayed that Baba Mahakal give them strength during this difficult time and offered humble tributes to the departed souls.

What happened

The incident occurred at Hotel Shri Ganga on Devas Road, where at least four laborers died from toxic gas while cleaning a food waste tank. One more worker was critically injured. During the rescue operation, three police personnel also suffered injuries.

The tragedy unfolded late Saturday night, around 10:30 pm, after the restaurant's food waste tank became blocked. One worker entered the chamber to check the blockage and got stuck. Three more workers went in one after another to help him, but all four died from toxic gas and suffocation.

The victims were identified as Kamlesh and Nitin of Valmiki Nagar, Wahid of Somwariya, and Manoj of Jhalawar. Their bodies are being examined at the district hospital.

A relative of one of the deceased, Shakir, said his son lived in a rented home and earned a living through daily wage labor. “I assumed he had gone to work last night, since he had carried his tiffin along. Only later did I learn he had died,” he said.

Rescue and response

Madhav Nagar police and a rescue team reached the site after being informed. District Collector Roshan Kumar Singh and SP Pradeep Sharma also visited the location. The chamber could not be opened in the usual way, so it was cut with a cutting machine. After roughly one and a half hours, all four workers were removed.

Police attempted CPR, but the workers could not be revived. Sub-Inspector Dharmendra Singh Tomar, Constable Santosh, and another individual were injured. Sanitation worker Hemraj escaped the chamber in time and survived.

Police officials said legal proceedings would be initiated based on the postmortem and investigation findings.