Ujjain, July 7 (AHN) One of the three labourers who were rescued after falling unconscious inside a sewer chamber during a sewerage project in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district on Tuesday died while undergoing treatment at a hospital, police said.

The two other labourers remain admitted and are undergoing treatment.

Their condition is said to be stable.

Confirming the deaths of one of the three labourers, Ujjain Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Sharma said the incident occurred during sewerage work near Pipli Naka on the Bhairavgarh road.

"A sewerage project was underway in the area when two workers who entered the sewer chamber felt suffocated. A third worker went inside to pull them out, but he also fell unconscious," Sharma told AHN.

According to the police, local residents alerted the authorities after noticing the workers trapped inside the chamber.

Police teams, along with local residents, carried out a rescue operation and pulled out all three labourers before shifting them to a hospital for treatment.

"They (labourers) were rescued with the help of police and local residents. They were sent to a hospital after being rescued for treatment. But unfortunately, one of them died during treatment," Ujjain SP Sharma said.

Police suspect the workers were overcome by toxic gases that had accumulated inside the confined sewer chamber.

However, the exact cause of death will be established after the post-mortem examination and the findings of the investigation.

The identity of the deceased has not yet been officially disclosed.

Authorities said the bodies of workers engaged in such hazardous operations are often exposed to poisonous gases if adequate safety precautions are not taken before entering confined spaces.

The Police have initiated an inquiry into the incident and are examining whether the labourers were provided with mandatory safety gear and whether standard operating procedures were followed during the sewerage work.

Statements of the contractor, site supervisors and other workers present at the spot are also expected to be recorded as part of the investigation.

The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of workers engaged in sewer cleaning and maintenance operations, where lapses in safety protocols continue to result in fatal accidents across the country.