Factory waste: Toxic fumes kill eight in Dera Ismail Khan

Victims, crossing effluent channel fell unconscious after inhaling fumes from the water.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

Poisonous fumes from a sugar mill in Dera Ismail Khan killed eight people including women and children, police told The Express Tribune.

Bodies of three victims were brought to the DI Khan District Headquarters and Teaching Hospital DI Khan for treatment on Friday. While six unconscious people were also shifted to the hospital.

Victims, crossing water channel that flows from Chashma Sugar Mill located in Ramak village of Tehsil Parowa towards Indus River passing through DI Khan, fell unconscious after inhaling toxic fumes from the water. The people who came in to help the victims were also killed in the incident.

A woman and a child are reported to be among those who fell unconscious, but are said to be out of danger at DHQ D I Khan hospital.

K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has taken strong notice of the tragic incident and directed the commissioner, DC and police high-ups of Dera to reach the venue and supervise relief effort.

He called for an immediate inquiry into the incident and added that besides the mills management it was the government officials who were negligent.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2014.