India, March 18 -- Three persons died allegedly due to inhalation of toxic gases while cleaning a septic tank at a private hospital in Raipur late Tuesday evening, officials said.

The incident occurred at Ramkrishna Care Hospital in the Pachpedi Naka area.

According to officials, the victims had entered the septic tank for cleaning when they were overcome by suspected poisonous gases.

Police teams faced difficulty in retrieving the bodies from the tank, an official said.

"Prima facie, it appears that they died after inhaling toxic gas inside the tank," the official said, adding that further investigation is underway.

A reporter present at the spot saw hospital staff shifting the bodies after they were brought out of the tank.

Police...