Two youths were asphyxiated to death today when they inhaled poisonous gas while cleaning a septic tank at the panchayat office in Sattur in Virudhunagar District, about 60 km from here, police said.
24-year old Pandi of Sattur and 30-year old Arokiyaraj of Sivakasi were engaged by the panchayat officials to clean the tank.
When the tank was opened, Arokiyaraj first entered it. Suddenly he swooned and on seeing it, Pandi went inside to help him. But, he too collapsed. Both inhaled poisonous gas and died on the spot, police said.
Passersby informed police and fire and rescue service personnel who retrieved the two bodies.
