Bid to clean septic tank for guru turns fatal for Tiruvallur youth

Police said that the youth and his friend had volunteered to inspect the septic tank for frequent blocks when the former succumbed to poisonous gases. His friend is undergoing treatment at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) here.

M Sampathkumar (24) of Perathur village, Tiruvallur district and his friend Narendran were Saibaba devotees and often visited a temple-cum-residence of Santhanam aka Guruji at Om Shakthi Nagar, Tirunindravur. On Saturday (Sampath’s birthday), the two had gone to seek the Guru’s blessings when they noticed a sewage tanker leaving the premises after clearing the septic tank. Upon inquiry, they found that the drains in the Guru’s residence often got blocked and volunteered to check if the tanker had completely removed the sewage.

“Narendran first entered the septic tank and became unconscious after inhaling poisonous gases. Sampath immediately jumped inside to help his friend and swooned too,” a police officer said. When the two did not respond for a while, locals entered the tank and brought out the two men. While Sampath was found dead, Narendran was critical and rushed to the RGGGH here where he is undergoing treatment. Tirunindravur police have registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPC and further investigation is on. Police said that the Guruji was inside the residence when the incident took place.