Four students died and one was seriously injured after suspected exposure to toxic gas inside an underground water tank at a Sanskrit gurukul in Vrindavan on Tuesday morning.

The incident took place at the gurukul in the Chaitanya Vihar area of Vrindavan in Mathura district. According to officials, foul smell was coming from a 12 to 14-foot-deep underground tank on the campus. When it was being cleaned, one student entered the tank and became unconscious, and four others who followed him also lost consciousness.

The injured student, identified as Rudra, was taken to a hospital, where his condition is critical. District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh and police officials rushed to the spot and launched an investigation into the incident.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences over the deaths and directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured student. Police are examining whether poisonous gases had accumulated in the sealed tank. The gurukul administration has not issued a statement so far.