Toxic gas leak claims three lives

Agra: Three persons of a family died while eight were taken ill after toxic gas leaked from a septic tank in Barhan town near the city, police said today.. 

Circle Officer Atul Sonkar said the septic tank of vegetable seller Heera Singh was being cleaned up, when gas started leaking from a chamber.

The victims were shifted to the emergency ward of the SN Medical College late in the night. 

Three persons, Heera Singh and his two sons Yashpal and Hemant died. Half a dozen are still being treated.

Neighbours and family members charged that there was a delay in rescue operations. 

A few lives could have been saved had the ambulance van been equipped with oxygen, a family member said.