Seven workers die in Indian hotel’s septic tank

A hotel owner in India is being sought and facing charges of culpable homicide after seven workers died when overcome by toxic fumes inside a septic tank.

Four sanitation workers and three hotel employees died at Hotel Darshan, located near the popular tourist city of Vadodara.

Vadodara Fire and Emergency Service said four sanitation workers were called to clean the tank.

One entered the tank but then didn’t reappear, so his colleagues then entered.

When all four failed to answer calls, three hotel housekeeping workers then entered the tank but they too died after inhaling toxic fumes.

Police are searching for hotel owner Hassan Abbas Bhoraniya who they say has absconded.

"We had sent teams to the hotel owner’s home in Bharuch and native Siddhpur, but he was not found at any of the locations," Police deputy superintendent K V Solanki said.

"All seven died of suffocation as the pressure of gas was high in the tank," said Vadodara fire officer Nikunj Azad.

"One person first entered the tank, but when he did not come out and did not respond to calls, three other cleaners went inside to help him," Azad added.