Mundka, India—Three laborers died Friday after inhaling toxic fumes while attempting to clean a septic tank at a printing press. The incident occurred in the industrial zone of Mundka, where authorities say the workers were operating without any safety gear. Emergency teams reached the factory shortly after noon, but the men had already succumbed to the gas.

Police identified the deceased as Arun, 38, Sandeep, 32, and Chand, 42, all residents of Sultanpuri. Initial findings suggest the operation was carried out manually, a practice prohibited under national labor laws. Investigators are now looking into the factory owner’s role in commissioning the work.

Witnesses noted that the workers were initially working from outside the manhole. One man slipped into the tank, leading the others to enter in a desperate attempt to rescue him. All three became trapped as the concentration of hazardous gases proved lethal almost instantly.

The factory owner, Suraj Marwah, was taken into custody alongside a contractor and a third associate. Law enforcement officials registered a criminal case under negligence statutes and the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act. The site remains cordoned off as forensic teams gather evidence.

Families of the deceased gathered outside the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital as post-mortem examinations began. The tragedy has sparked renewed outcry from labor rights activists regarding the persistence of manual scavenging in urban centers. They point to widespread administrative failure in enforcing safety standards.

Government inspectors had reportedly not surveyed this specific site for compliance in recent months. The local industrial development corporation is now facing questions regarding its oversight of sanitation protocols in the area. Official reports indicate that Delhi has seen dozens of similar deaths since 2017.

The incident highlights the grim reality of sanitation work in the national capital. While mechanization is mandated by law, human laborers continue to be deployed for dangerous tasks. This pattern repeats despite repeated court warnings and public safety mandates.

Authorities are currently reviewing the specific contract terms signed by the factory management. The investigation seeks to determine if the workers were coerced into the dangerous task due to financial pressure. No further work is permitted at the factory until the judicial process concludes.