Four Workers Die After Entering Food Waste Chamber at Ujjain Hotel

Four workers died after entering a food waste chamber at Shri Ganga Hotel on the Ujjain-Dewas Road in Madhya Pradesh late on 31 October 2026. Police and local officials said the men collapsed after exposure to suspected toxic gas inside the chamber.

Ujjain Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said the incident occurred around 11 pm. Staff members and private individuals brought in for the task entered an above-ground chamber used to collect leftover food and residual waste from the hotel's confectionery and dairy sections. Two men went in first. Two more entered in an attempt to rescue them. All four died. A fifth cleaner, Hemraj, entered, experienced breathing difficulty and dizziness, and managed to exit. Two others who tried to help also fell ill and were taken to hospital.

District Collector Raushan Kumar Singh said two people initially entered the tank, apparently for cleaning. Two more then entered to rescue them. In total four individuals lost their lives. Police used a cutting machine to open the metal chamber door after the entrance could not be unlocked. Rescue efforts lasted nearly 90 minutes. Officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation once the men were pulled out, but none of the four could be revived. They were declared dead at a hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Kamlesh Tamboli, 30, Nitin Binrawan or Nitin Valmik, 28, Wahid Khan, 29, and Manoj Meena, 25. Three were from Ujjain and one from Jhalawar in Rajasthan. Kamlesh Tamboli was described as a daily-wage worker who took extra jobs during Diwali to support his family. Their bodies were sent for post-mortem examination. An investigation is under way to determine the exact sequence of events and whether the workers entered to clean the chamber or fell in by accident.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief and announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh for each of the four families. He said the news of the deaths during cleaning of a chamber at a private hotel was deeply painful. Police registered the case and are examining the hotel's waste-handling procedures and the condition of the chamber.

Local police station in-charge Gajendra Pachoriya said the rescue was difficult because of the slippery surface inside the chamber and the presence of gas. Three police personnel sustained minor injuries during the operation. The hotel is located on the Ujjain-Dewas Road. Officials said the chamber was used to collect waste generated by the hotel's food preparation areas.

Toxic gas accumulation in enclosed waste tanks is a known hazard in food-processing and hospitality settings when organic material decomposes without adequate ventilation. Hydrogen sulfide and other gases can displace oxygen and cause rapid loss of consciousness. Standard confined-space entry procedures require gas testing, forced ventilation and continuous monitoring before anyone enters. Police and the district administration will examine whether those steps were followed at the hotel.

Families of the deceased have begun the process of claiming the announced compensation. The post-mortem reports will help establish the precise cause of death. The hotel management has not issued a public statement beyond cooperating with the investigation, according to police.

Ujjain is a major pilgrimage centre. Hotels in the city handle large volumes of food waste during festival periods. The incident occurred on the night after Diwali-related activity, when extra cleaning work was common. District officials said they would review safety practices at similar establishments in the city.

The four men were pulled from the chamber and taken by ambulance to the hospital. CPR was continued en route. Doctors confirmed death on arrival for all four. The two survivors who entered to help were treated and later discharged or remained under observation depending on their condition.

State labour and factory inspectorates may also examine the hotel's compliance with workplace safety rules for confined spaces. The financial assistance announced by the chief minister is the standard ex-gratia amount provided in such accidental deaths in Madhya Pradesh.