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Published : 11 Jul 2025, 05:50 PM
Krishna Ravidas, a resident of Harinchara Tea Garden in Sreemangal Upazila of Moulvibazar, used to drive his tomtom, a three-wheeled passenger vehicle, every day.
Now, the vehicle sits idle.
Krishna died while trying to save his neighbours after they fell into a septic tank.
His family is struggling to come to terms with his death. Krishna’s mother, Deonti Ravidas, has been fainting repeatedly.
On Wednesday night, four people died after falling into a septic tank while trying to retrieve a mobile phone at the western line of Harinchara Tea Garden, on the border of Sreemangal.
Among them was 19-year-old Krishna, the son of Jahar Lal Ravidas. Another person was hospitalised in the incident.
The other victims were Rana Patnaik, 17, and his brother Shravan Patnaik, 19, sons of Uday Patnaik, and Nripen Phulmali, 27, the son of Laxminder Phulmali. All were residents of the tea garden.
On Thursday, mourners crowded the home of Krishna.
A woman pointed to a parked tomtom and said, “That tomtom you are looking at, Krishna used to drive it.”
Moments later, she collapsed in grief.
Locals said she was Krishna’s mother. They sprinkled water on her face to help her regain consciousness.
After waking, Deonti said through tears, “My son gave his life to save them. Who will drive his tomtom now? Who will feed me now?”
Similar scenes unfolded at the homes of Rana, Shravan, and Nripen.
No cooking fires burned in the neighbourhood that afternoon. Residents were consumed by grief.
The deaths of four young men in such a small space shocked the community. Many struggled to understand how they could all perish in a single septic tank.
Sabuj Taju, a resident of Harinchara Tea Garden, described what happened.
He said Rana had gone to the bathroom around midnight on Wednesday when his mobile phone fell into the septic tank.
Rana then called his brother Shravan and climbed into the tank to retrieve it. When he did not return, Shravan followed.
When he too failed to come up, three more tea garden workers Nripen, Krishna Ravidas, and Rabindra attempted to rescue them by entering the tank.
“When none of them came up, other workers pulled them out and rushed them to the Sreemangal Upazila Health Complex at around 1 am,” Sabuj said.
“They were later sent to the Moulvibazar 250-bed Hospital in critical condition.”
Doctors declared four of them dead. Rabindra, the only survivor, was transferred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Dayal Bunarjee, another resident of the tea garden, said, “Everyone who sees this septic tank is shocked. How did five people enter a hole that’s only six feet deep? The garden workers cannot accept this.”
Satyakam Chakraborty, former director of the Health Department and former civil surgeon of Moulvibazar, said several toxic gases—including methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide—can accumulate in septic tanks.
“These gases pose a serious risk to human life,” he said.
“Such incidents often happen due to a lack of awareness, especially in tea garden areas. A law may be needed to regulate access to septic tanks. No one should enter one without proper preparation.”
Pritam Das, Sylhet divisional coordinator of the National Citizen Party, visited the site and called for increased awareness in tea garden communities.
“Such incidents happen often in tea gardens,” he said.
“The upazila administration and garden authorities should inform workers about these dangers.”
Bikash Singh, assistant manager of Harinchara Tea Garden, said the deaths were unexpected.
“But when a relative falls in, people instinctively try to save them. We must also warn them about how to do so safely,” he said.
Md Islam Uddin, Sreemangal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), or Upazila Executive Officer, said four people from three families died in the incident.
The district commissioner has provided financial assistance for funeral expenses, with more support to follow.
Anisur Rahman, assistant superintendent of police for the Sreemangal Circle, urged residents to be cautious and avoid entering septic tanks.
