Two migrant labourers working at Excel Owens factory in phase-I of Jeedimetla Industrial Area lost their lives on Friday when they accidentally fell into the septic tank on the factory premises.

The victims have been identified as Bijay Singh (30) and his nephew Ajay Singh (23), residents of West Bengal.

The incident occurred on Friday morning, when they were about to leave for their respective homes after doing night shift.

“Ajay was brushing his teeth and was casually walking in the open space of the factory premises. He stepped onto the manhole cover of the septic tank,” Jeedimetla Inspector E. Shankar Reddy told The Hindu.

The cover suddenly came apart and Ajay Singh fell in the septic tank.

His uncle Bijay also climbed down into the tank to save Ajay.  

By the time the other workers gathered, the two had already drowned in the septic tank and died.

The septic tank was reportedly over two decades old and the cement-made manhole cover had already developed cracks.

“Police were alerted later. We reached the spot and got the cover removed completely to let the poisonous gases escape. The bodies were subsequently pulled out,” the inspector told Times of India.

A case has been booked against the factory management for rash and negligent act resulting in death under Section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code.