Patna: At least four persons died and another fell sick after poisonous gas leaked from the septic tank of a newly built toilet in Supaul district on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses told police that Umesh Mandal had constructed a toilet at Simaria village under Triveniganj police station about six months ago.

As it developed problems, a worker identified as Vishwabandhu Mandal went inside to rectify the snag. But he fell unconscious and died. Rajesh Mandal, Upendra Mandal, Santosh Mandal and Shambhu Mandal - all residents of Simaria village in Supaul district - also fell sick from alleged leak of poisonous gas.

All of them were rushed to the local primary health centre and then referred to the sadar hospital at Supaul.

The victims were all in the age group of 30 to 45 years.

While three of them died, Shambhu is undergoing treatment.

Sub-divisional officer Vinay Kumar Singh visited the village later and inquired into the incident. Singh said prima facie it appeared that the labourers died of suffocation in septic tank.

"A detailed investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death. The post-mortem report is awaited," Singh said, adding that Triveniganj police have lodged an FIR.

The bodies of Vishwabandhu, Rajesh, Upendra and Santosh were handed over to the police after post-mortem.

Fraud sentence

Judicial magistrate Sarika Vahalia on Wednesday sentenced Pankaj Kumar Singh, a resident of Jagjivan Gali under Gandhi Maidan police station, to two years' rigorous imprisonment in a case of fraud.

Gandhi Maidan police had lodged the FIR on March 26, 2007.