NEW DELHI, May 26 -- A 55-year-old worker died and another is in critical condition after they allegedly inhaled toxic gases while cleaning a septic tank in east Delhi's New Ashok Nagar on Sunday, police said on Monday.

According to a preliminary probe, the men were sent inside the tank without safety equipment, police said.

Police said the incident took place in A-Block, Gali No. 41 of New Ashok Nagar on Sunday afternoon. The homeowner allegedly hired a contractor, identified as Anil, to clean the septic tank.

The contractor, police said, engaged Vinod, 55, and Dharmendra, 34 - both residents of Sector-16 in Noida - for the job. "The two workers entered the nearly eight-foot-deep septic tank without protective gear, oxygen support, ma...