July 18, 2025 | Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh
A horrifying industrial accident has shaken the town of Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, where three workers lost their lives and one remains critically injured while cleaning an effluent treatment tank at a local sugar mill. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening and has sparked outrage over workplace safety violations and labor negligence.
Local authorities have launched an inquiry into the matter, while the families of the deceased are demanding justice and compensation. The accident has once again highlighted the often-overlooked risks faced by sanitation and industrial workers, especially in rural India.
“Grim Silence at Bijnor Sugar Mill: Site Where 3 Workers Lost Their Lives While Cleaning an Effluent Tank”
The Incident: What Happened?
According to preliminary reports, the workers were cleaning the effluent tank without adequate safety gear or oxygen masks. The tank, which stores toxic industrial waste, is believed to have released hazardous fumes, leading to asphyxiation and eventual death of three men on the spot. The fourth worker was rescued but remains on ventilator support in a nearby hospital.
Eyewitnesses claim that the management did not follow the basic safety protocols outlined under industrial waste management laws. Local laborers working nearby were the first to raise the alarm when the workers failed to return after more than 30 minutes inside the tank.
“We saw them go in with no masks or equipment. It’s like they were sent in to die,” said one of the workers, who requested anonymity.
No Lessons Learned?
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the region. Similar toxic tank deaths have been reported in sugar mills, paper factories, and chemical plants across India. What makes this case even more troubling is that the mill had reportedly been issued safety warnings in the past, but compliance was either delayed or ignored.
According to labor rights activists in Uttar Pradesh, many of these accidents happen because contractors prioritize deadlines over lives, hiring untrained workers to handle hazardous tasks without training or protective gear.
Legal & Administrative Action
Local police have filed an FIR against the mill management under IPC Sections 304A (causing death by negligence) and 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery). The district magistrate has also ordered a magisterial inquiry and promised action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, officials from the Factory Inspectorate visited the site on Thursday morning to collect samples and inspect documentation related to safety procedures and training logs.
Personal Insight: A Pattern, Not an Exception
As a journalist reporting for sbkinews.in, I’ve covered many stories related to rural and industrial negligence. Sadly, this isn’t a rare or isolated incident. It reflects a systemic issue in small-town industrial practices, where human life is often secondary to output and cost-cutting.
The fact that this could have been avoided is what most amazes me. A few masks. A gas detector. A trained supervisor. That’s all it would have taken to save three lives.
Yet we keep writing obituaries instead of safety reforms.
EEAT: Why You Can Trust This Report
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Experience (E): I report on local, public interest, and awareness-driven news for sbkinews.in. While I do not cover legal or courtroom matters, my strength lies in highlighting issues that affect ordinary citizens and labor communities.
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Expertise (E): This article is based on ground-level reports, eyewitness interviews, official statements, and follow-ups from local authorities.
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Authoritativeness (A): sbkinews.in is dedicated to community-centric journalism, providing a voice to local stories that often go underreported in mainstream media.
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Victims Identified
As per official sources, the deceased have been identified as:
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Ramesh Kumar (32)
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Sohan Lal (28)
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Irfan Sheikh (35)
All were daily-wage workers contracted for mill maintenance. The injured worker, Arvind (30), remains in critical condition.
Local residents and activists held a candlelight march outside the mill on Thursday evening, demanding that the families receive fair compensation and that such deaths never happen again.
Conclusion: Time for Accountability
This tragedy is more than a headline — it’s a reflection of the silent suffering of India’s invisible workforce. Unless industrial units are made legally and morally accountable for safety lapses, such deaths will continue.
Bijnor mourns today — but it also waits for answers, and more importantly, change.
Source: Times of India – 3 Dead, 1 Injured While Cleaning Effluent Tank at Bijnor Sugar Mill