India, Sept. 9 -- Two sanitation workers died after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a septic tank at a house in Annai Nagar, Vadugarpettai, near Kallakudi and Lalgudi in Tamil Nadu's Trichy district on September 2.

The victims were identified as M Ganesh, 25, from Kumbakonam, and Mukesh Kumar, 26, from Bihar.

According to the Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM), Mukesh entered the 12-foot-deep septic tank first to clean it but lost consciousness after inhaling poisonous fumes. Ganesh then entered the tank in an attempt to rescue him and was also overcome by the fumes.

Both men died inside the tank. DASAM said the workers had not been provided with safety equipment.

Fire and rescue personnel later recovered the bodies. Kalla...