KARACHI: A sanitation worker died and two others fell unconscious after inhaling toxic fumes while they were cleaning a gutter, storm-water drain, in Landhi on Sunday, said police and hospital of ficials.

Landhi police officer Manzoor Arain said that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board brought sanitation workers for cleaning of a drain in Landhi-2 near Babar Market.

Three workers were cleaning the drain when they became unconscious due to noxious fumes. Two of them were rescued by their colleagues immediately and taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment while the third one fell down inside the drain.

The officer said that the incident occurred at around 9.30am. The workers were apparently provided with no protective gear or equipment by the KWSB for cleaning work.

Similarly, it appeared that the water board also did not have proper machinery or equipment to retrieve drowned workers. As a result, the body of Rafiq Masih, 30, who fell down into the drain was retrieved at around 5pm with the help of a crane and was taken to the JPMC for medico-legal formalities.

Dr Seemin Jamali, executive director of the hospital, said one sanitation worker died and two others became unconscious due to gas inhalation.

She added that the condition of two sanitation workers, Riaz Yunus and Michael Sadiq, was out of danger.