Pune: Three BSNL Workers Die After Inhaling Toxic Fumes in Optical Fibre Chamber at Pimpri-Chinchwad
Pune: Three BSNL Workers Die After Inhaling Toxic Fumes in Optical Fibre Chamber at Pimpri-Chinchwad
Pune: In a tragic incident that unfolded in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Friday afternoon, three contract workers engaged in maintenance work for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) lost their lives after being exposed to poisonous gases inside an underground optical fibre chamber. The mishap occurred near Nigdi around 3 pm on Friday, leaving the local community in shock.
According to Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh, the accident began when one worker first went down into the chamber to carry out routine work. “He suddenly began feeling uneasy and called out for help. Soon after, two more workers entered the chamber to assist him, but they too experienced breathing difficulties and collapsed inside,” Singh explained. He also clarified that the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) was not involved in this operation, as the project was being handled by BSNL.
The fire brigade rushed to the spot as soon as they were alerted. PCMC fire officer Anil Dimble shared details of the rescue attempt, saying, “We immediately reached the location and pulled all three workers out of the chamber. Two of them appeared to have already succumbed to the fumes, while the third was still unconscious. We administered CPR to all of them before shifting them to Lokmanya Hospital, but unfortunately, doctors declared all three dead.”
The deceased workers were identified as Lakhan Ghavare (32), Sahebrao Girsethe (35), and Datta Onale (32). Confirming the deaths, Dr. Shrikrishna Joshi, spokesperson for Lokmanya Hospital, stated, “All three were brought to the hospital in a lifeless condition. The bodies have now been sent for postmortem examination.”
