Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 7 (ANI): Four students died, and another was injured after they were exposed to suspected toxic gas while cleaning an underground water tank (submersible tank) at a Sanskrit school (Gurukulam) in Vrindavan's Chaitanya Vihar, officials said.
District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh said the incident took place when students tried to clean an underground water tank after a foul smell was detected from it. The tank was around 12 to 14 feet deep.
"The gurukulam is being run by Ashish Kumar Sharma of Madhya Pradesh and has around 200 students enrolled, with nearly 100 currently residing on the premises. The students first removed water from the tank using a motor. After some water remained, they started cleaning it. One student went inside the tank but became unconscious, apparently after being exposed to toxic gas," the District Magistrate said.
Four other students subsequently entered the tank in an attempt to rescue him. All five students became unconscious inside the tank and were later pulled out and taken to hospital.
The District Magistrate said four students died in the incident, while one student, identified as Rudra, survived and was undergoing treatment.
SSP Shlok Kumar said the four deceased students were aged between 17 and 20 years. Their bodies were sent to the mortuary and their families were being informed.
The surviving student was initially taken to the district hospital and later referred for better monitoring. The SSP said the student was conscious and talking.
"The incident came to the notice of the Chief Minister, who took immediate cognisance and directed officials to ensure relief and rescue operations and proper treatment for the injured student", the District Magistrate said.
Singh said, "A magisterial inquiry would be conducted to ascertain how the incident occurred, whether the gurukulam had the required recognition and under what circumstances the students were made to clean the water tank".
"Other gurukulams in the area would be audited again, and the buildings would be checked to prevent recurrence of such incidents. SSP Kumar said CCTV cameras installed at the site would also be examined. He said further legal action would be taken on the basis of the complaint submitted by the families," he added.
Four students died after entering a water tank at a residential educational institution in Vrindavan to clean it, while another student survived the incident, police said on Wednesday.
In a post on X, Mathura Police said the incident took place at Vrindavan Gurukulam, a residential institution where children stay and study.
➡️थाना वृन्दावन - जनपद मथुरा ।⬅️ ➡️अभी कुछ देर पहले सूचना प्राप्त हुई थी कि थाना वृंदावन क्षेत्र में एक वृंदावन गुरुकुलम करके संस्था है जहां पर बच्चे आकर रहते हैं और यह रेजिडेंशियल सेटअप है जहां बच्चे रहते हैं और पढ़ते हैं । इसी संस्था के अंदर एक वाटर टैंक बना हुआ है जिसमें से कि बदबू आ रही थी और उसको साफ करने के लिए वहां के बच्चे इसमें उतरे थे सबसे पहले जब एक लड़का उसके अंदर उतरा तो वह बाहर नहीं निकला और उसके पीछे चार और लड़के अंदर गए । उसके बाद वो जब बाहर नहीं आए तो उनको वहां पर जो उपस्थित लोग थे उनके द्वारा प्रयास करके किसी तरह बाहर निकाला गया । इनको अस्पताल उपचार हेतु लाया गया था, जहां पर कि जो पांच बच्चे अंदर गए थे उनमें से चार की मृत्यु हो गई है । इनकी उम्र 17 से 20 वर्ष के बीच में है इनके परिवार से संपर्क कर उनको सूचित किया जा रहा है । यहां पर जो डिस्ट्रिक्ट हॉस्पिटल है यहां से जो चार मृत है उनकी बॉडी को मोर्चरी भेज दिया गया है । एक बच्चा जो कि अंदर गया था और वह सुरक्षित है उसको डिस्ट्रिक्ट हॉस्पिटल से अभी रेफर किया गया है । वर्तमान में वह बातचीत कर रहा है फिर भी उसका बेहतर मॉनिटरिंग सुनिश्चित हो इसके लिए उसे अभी रेफर कर दिया गया है । जहां घटना हुई है वहीं पर सीसीटीवी कैमरे भी लगे हुए हैं उसको भी चेक किया जा रहा है । परिवार से संपर्क स्थापित कर उनके द्वारा जो भी तहरीर दी जाएगी उसके आधार पर अग्रिम विधिक कारवाई सुनिश्चित की जाएगी । बाइटः- वरिष्ठ पुलिस अधीक्षक मथुरा । #SSP_MTA @Uppolice @adgzoneagra @digrangeagra
— MATHURA POLICE (@mathurapolice) October 6, 2026
"A foul smell was emanating from a water tank on the premises, following which students entered the tank to clean it. Police said the first student entered the tank but did not come out. Four other students subsequently entered the tank, but they too failed to emerge. People present at the spot then managed to pull all five students out and took them to the district hospital for treatment. Of the five students who entered the tank, four died. Their ages were between 17 and 20 years," police said.
"The bodies of the four deceased students have been sent to the mortuary at the district hospital. Police are contacting their families and informing them about the incident. The fifth student, who survived, was referred from the district hospital for better monitoring", he added.
CCTV cameras installed at the site are also being checked as part of the investigation, police said. (ANI)
