Aizawl: Two men died after losing consciousness inside a water storage tank while cleaning it at Tlangsam village in Mizoram’s Champhai district, near the Myanmar border, on Wednesday morning, police said.Police said F Hrangmawii, a resident of Dinthar Veng in Tlangsam, had hired Vanlalpeka and Vannunmawia to clean the tank, which is used to harvest rainwater, ahead of the expected rainfall.Vanlalpeka lost consciousness soon after entering the tank. Vannunmawia and two other men working nearby, Lalengmawia and Lalhmingthanga, then entered the tank to rescue him.Vannunmawia and Lalengmawia also lost consciousness inside the tank. Lalhmingthanga, the last to enter, raised an alarm, prompting people working in the neighbourhood to rush to the spot and rescue them.Vanlalpeka, 39, Lalengmawia, 33, and Vannunmawia were taken to a nearby hospital. Vanlalpeka and Lalengmawia died after reaching the hospital, while Vannunmawia survived.Police said the tank was about seven feet deep and contained around two feet of water. Rescue workers said there was little breathable air inside and reported a strong foul smell, indicating a possible lack of oxygen.
