Two young men died after inhaling suspected toxic chemical fumes inside a public toilet in Goregaon East, Mumbai, in the early hours of Sunday. The deceased were identified as Prabhakar Dhanivar, 24, and Bhavin Desai, 18.

The incident occurred between 2:30 and 3:00 am near Ram Mandir railway station, opposite the Parsi Panchayat Gate. According to police, the two had dinner with their Ganpati mandal group before going to the toilet. They were found unconscious after about 30 minutes and declared dead at Trauma Care Hospital.

Vanrai police have registered an FIR on culpable homicide charges against the owner and staff of the adjacent metal polishing and electroplating unit, Sai Electroplate. The unit’s owner, Navinchandra Chawda, has been arrested, while an operator is reported to be absconding. The factory and the toilet block have been sealed.

Senior PI Abdul Shaikh of Vanrai police told ANI the fumes are suspected to have come from chemicals discharged into the drainage by the nearby electroplating unit. Eyewitnesses reported a strong acid-like smell. The pollution control board has installed a 24-hour monitoring device at the site, and post-mortem examinations have been conducted.