Meerut, July 19 -- Three workers died and another was in a critical condition after a toxic gas leak at a sugar mill in Bijnor district caused them to become unconscious and fall into the mill's water treatment plant when it was being cleaned, officials said. The incident occurred at Uttam Sugar Mill in Barkatpur village under jurisdiction of Nangal police station around 10.30am. The authorities have launched a probe into the incident. Preliminary findings confirm that basic industrial safety norms were completely ignored. "Appropriate legal and administrative action will follow once the full report is submitted," Bijnor district magistrate Jasjit Kaur said. Bijnor's ASP City Sanjeev Bajpai said the sugar mill had flouted basic safety protocols. "The workers were sent to clean a hazardous tank without any safety kits or gas masks. No gas detection equipment was present. This is a grave violation of industrial safety norms," he said. The deceased were identified as Kapil Dev (30), resident of Titosra village; Sopal (49) of Lalpur village; and Muneshwar Kumar (45), supervisor from Kabulpur. One worker, Prabhat, survived but is in critical condition and undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. Eyewitnesses at the site reported that the incident occurred when Kapil Dev opened the lid of the ATP (Activated Treatment Process) tank, leading to an immediate release of poisonous gas. He lost consciousness and fell into the tank. In a desperate bid to save him, Sopal, followed by supervisor Muneshwar, entered the tank, but they also collapsed due to the gas. A fourth worker attempted to rescue them but also fell into the tank. After emergency services arrived, including ASP City Sanjeev Bajpai and fire brigade personnel, the workers were pulled out using proper safety gear. Kapil, Sopal, and Muneshwar were declared dead at the hospital. Prabhat remains on life support....