AHMEDABAD: Three workers died on Friday after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a septic tank inside a garment unit in the Danilimda area of the city. The factory was shut for a year, and cleaning work was being carried out ahead of its reopening. The deceased are Prakash Parmar, Vishal Thakor and Sunil Rathva, all aged around 20. The incident occurred in the morning on the second day of cleaning. A private contractor had been hired by the unit’s operator for the task. According to police, a worker first entered the underground tank and soon showed signs of distress before collapsing. Two other workers, who then entered the tank to rescue him, also fell unconscious and could not be revived. They were later taken to LG Hospital in Maninagar, where doctors declared them dead.Inspector G J Ravat of Danilimda police said the tank was part of a denim washing unit. A case of accidental death has been registered. The workers were not issued protective gear, sources said. Officials from the fire brigade and police said the tank had no external connections and was likely sealed for a long time. Workers reported a certain odour on the first day of work, but they continued without complaining. Assistant commissioner of police (K Division) Y A Gohil, said that statements were being collected from witnesses, and an FIR would be registered against the contractor and factory operator. He confirmed that the deceased were without any safety gear when they entered the tank. The unit was being revived under the direction of its owner, who had hired a supervisor to manage the cleaning through a local contractor named Jignesh Purbhia. According to police, the three men returned to the factory on Friday morning to complete the task they had undertaken the day before. Co-workers alerted emergency services after the three workers collapsed inside the tank. Danilimda police have begun analysing the CCTV footage and are questioning the contractor. Investigators stated that no record pertaining to issuance of safety instructions or distribution of safety equipment has been found. The process of filing formal charges is underway. If negligence is confirmed, then sections pertaining to culpable homicide not amounting to murder may be invoked.