Septic Tank Turns Fatal for Four in Garhwa

Garhwa – A tragic incident struck Nawada village on Friday, claiming the lives of four men, including three brothers from the same family. The men died after entering a newly built septic tank to remove its shuttering in an under-construction house.

The victims were identified as Ajay Choudhary (50), Chandrashekhar Choudhary (42), and Raju Shekhar Choudhary (55) — all sons of local resident Moti Choudhary — and their neighbour, Maltu Ram.

According to residents, Maltu Ram went into the tank first but didn’t return. Concerned, Raju entered to check on him, only to meet the same fate. One by one, Ajay and Chandrashekhar followed, and all four became trapped inside.

Villagers quickly gathered and, after considerable struggle, managed to pull them out. They were rushed to Garhwa Sadar Hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead.

Officials, including Sub-Divisional Officer Sanjay Kumar, SDPO Neeraj Kumar, and police station chief Brij Kumar, reached the hospital soon after and sent the bodies for post-mortem.

Locals suspect that toxic gases inside the tank caused suffocation. The tragedy has plunged Nawada village and the nearby Garhwa town into deep grief.