JAISALMER: Three workers died of suffocation on Friday after being exposed to toxic gas while cleaning a sludge tank at a textile factory in Rajasthan’s Balotra industrial area.The incident took place at Lalji Wala Mills, where the workers were cleaning a sludge tank. Toxic gas inside the tank caused them to lose consciousness. When no response was heard, other workers at the site pulled them out and rushed them to Government Nahata Hospital in Balotra.The deceased have been identified as Gumanaram (25), Vishambhar Tiwari (54), and Shravan (32), all residents of Balotra.Doctors declared all three workers dead on arrival. Family members of the deceased arrived at the hospital following the incident. The SDM and DSP also visited the hospital to assess the situation. The administration has started questioning the factory management about the accident.A preliminary investigation suggests negligence on the part of the factory owner, as the workers were reportedly sent into the tank without proper safety equipment. Exposure to toxic gas caused them to lose consciousness, resulting in their deaths.The police have kept the bodies in the hospital mortuary and initiated post-mortem procedures. A spot inspection of the factory has been carried out, and the SDM stated that prima facie negligence by the factory owner was observed. The investigation is ongoing.