Asphyxiation of two fishers: rights panel seeks report from District Collector

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has registered a suo motu case over the deaths of two migrant workers who allegedly inhaled toxic gas inside the storeroom of a fishing boat at Beypore Harbour in Kozhikode district.

The Commission has also directed the District Collector and the Director of Fisheries to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident and submit a report within a week.

Sachin Das, a native of West Bengal, died on October 11, 2026, while undergoing treatment after the incident. Another worker from the State, Dilip Sur, died earlier.

Both men were employed on the fishing boat named Tesla. The incident occurred on October 9, 2026, when the workers were collecting stock from the vessel’s storeroom. A lack of fresh air inside the enclosed space is suspected to have caused them to lose consciousness.

The workers were reportedly found motionless when they were brought out of the compartment. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered in the ambulance while they were being shifted to the hospital. Both were in a critical condition.

A team of Fire and Rescue Services personnel was present at the spot to coordinate the rescue operation. They had urged the boat operators to exercise particular care when employing unskilled migrant workers in hazardous working conditions.

Rescue officers who were present at the spot said the deaths renewed concerns over the safety of workers employed on fishing boats, particularly those required to enter confined storage compartments. According to fishermen sources, migrant workers are frequently sent into tanks used for storing fish, where decomposing fish and the possible accumulation of toxic gases, including ammonia, pose a serious threat to life.

The latest incident comes months after two fishermen from West Bengal, Ripan Das, 22, and Sahadeb Das, 19, died in a similar suspected toxic gas inhalation incident near Beypore Harbour on April 18. They reportedly lost their lives while carrying out emergency repair work inside a boat.

“The major concern is that there are very few fishermen in a boat who are scientifically trained in meeting such hazardous situations and saving lives. There should be an immediate training project covering the fishers to avert such dangerous situations,” said a retired Fisheries department official. He also pointed out that the Karunya marine ambulance should be prepared ready with the required medical staff to address such situations very quickly.