Barmer/Balotra, March 14 -- Three workers were killed allegedly after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a sludge tank at a private textile factory located in Balotra district on Friday afternoon, officials said. According to preliminary information, the incident occurred around 12.30pm at Lalji Wala Mills in the third phase of the RIICO Industrial Area, where cleaning work was underway in a sludge tank used for industrial waste. Three workers entered the tank to carry out the cleaning process. During the operation, toxic gas reportedly accumulated inside the confined space, causing the workers to suddenly fall unconscious. The deceased workers have been identified as Gumana Ram (30), Shravan Lal (25), and Vishambhar Das (54), officials said. As soon as fellow workers noticed that the three men had collapsed inside the tank, they immediately informed the factory management. The unconscious workers were pulled out of the tank and quickly transported by ambulance to the Government Nahata District Hospital. Upon receiving information about the incident, local administrative officials, including the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and the deputy superintendent of police (DSP), reached the hospital and the factory premises to take stock of the situation. Police and administrative teams also conducted a preliminary inspection of the factory. Balotra SDM Ashok Kumar said that an inspection of the site had been carried out and the bodies of the deceased had been shifted to the mortuary for postmortem examination. "Preliminary findings suggest that the workers died due to inhalation of toxic gas inside the sludge tank," he said. "The workers were allegedly sent inside the tank without proper safety equipment. Authorities have begun questioning the factory management regarding the circumstances that led to the incident," he said. Officials said appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry....