2 die from entering under-construction septic tank at Champawat college

Pithoragarh: Two people died on Sunday after entering an under-construction septic tank at APJ Abdul Kalam Institute of Technology in Tanakpur, Champawat. Officials said prima facie, Hasan, 24, a labourer from Pilibhit, and Shivraj Chauhan, 28, a local resident and site engineer, died of suffocation.Hasan had gone inside the 10-ft-deep tank to inspect it. When he didn't return for a long time, Chauhan followed but also failed to come out, said Chetan Rawat, SHO of Tanakpur police station. Observers then alerted the police and fire department.Both were rescued in an unconscious state and taken to the sub-district hospital in Tanakpur, where doctors declared them dead. Chief medical superintendent Ghanashyam Tiwari said, "Prima facie, the cause of death is suffocation, but it can only be confirmed after the post-mortem report."The SHO added that the tank had two chambers and there was some water inside, and it was possible the two had inhaled water.