Koraput: On Wednesday, three individuals lost their lives from suspected asphyxiation while cleaning a septic tank in the Rayagada district of Odisha, according to local police reports.

The incident occurred in Tarpaguda, within the jurisdiction of the Padmapur police station.

The victims have been identified as Harishchandra Bir, aged 46, Prakash Lima, aged 47, and Alok Karad, aged 45, all residents of the area.

According to police, one of the men entered the tank first, followed by the other two. They subsequently became unconscious, likely due to oxygen deprivation or the presence of toxic gases inside the tank.

Fire service personnel later recovered the bodies from the tank, as confirmed by authorities.

Initial investigations suggest that the three may have succumbed to asphyxiation while inside the septic tank. The definitive cause of death will be determined following postmortem examinations, stated BD Pradhan, the inspector-in-charge at Padmapur police station.