One worker killed after inhaling toxic gas in Ctg

A worker was killed and three more workers fell ill after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning an oil tanker carrying burnt oil from vessels at the Foujdarhat area under Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram last night.

However, the identities of the deceased and injured could not be confirmed, said police and fire service personnel.

The incident took place around 7:45pm at the Jalil Gate area of Foujdarhat, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Aminul Islam, in-charge of Foujdarhat police outpost.

The spot where the incident occurred is used to store burnt motor oil and oil from the shipbreaking yard through an oil tanker, he added.

"First, a worker entered the tanker to clean it, but he fell sick. Failing to get a response, another worker went down and also fell sick. This way, four workers fell sick as they got down one after another to rescue each other," he said.

"On information, we rushed to the spot but found the area locked from outside," said SI Aminul.

Sub-Inspector Nurul Alam Ashek, in charge of CMCH police outpost, said, "Four were rushed to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital in an unconscious state where they were admitted to ward 2 with critical conditions at around 9:30pm."

An unidentified worker was declared dead later while undergoing treatment at the hospital at around 10:30pm, he said.