At least 11 people were killed and four others are reported unconscious in an incident of gas leakage from a local factory unit in Punjab’s Ludhiana on April 30.
Four more people, who were taken ill, are undergoing treatment at a hospital, they added.
The area has been sealed while a fire brigade and an ambulance have been deployed there, police said. A 50-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also reached the site.
A government statement said that 11 persons are so far dead in the incident. Police said the casualties comprise five females and six males. Two boys aged 10 and 13 are among the eleven who died in the incident, they said.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu earlier told reporters that the incident occurred in Giaspura area of Ludhiana in the morning. The source of gas leakage and type of gas is yet to be ascertained, he added.
An NDRF official said it was yet to be found which gas caused the deaths. “We will check it first then we will let you know,” the official said in a response to a query.
A district administration official said a team of the NDRF, which has reached here, will ascertain the source and the type of gas.
As it was a thickly-populated area, the immediate priority was to evacuate people from the place, the official further said.
Source of gas leakage and type of gas yet to be ascertained
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the Police, a 50-member team from NDRF team, and government officials have been pressed into action for rescue and are present at the spot.
Mr. Mann expressed grief over the incident and added that all possible help will be being provided.
The district administration announced ₹2 lakh compensation each for the family of the deceased and ₹50,000 each for those who were taken ill in the incident.
Also read: ‘All possible help is being extended,’ says CM Mann on Ludhiana gas leak incident
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief at the loss of lives and said the NDRF team is engaged in relief work.
“The gas leak accident in Punjab’s Ludhiana is very sad. @NDRFHQ team is engaged in relief work on the spot. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. May God give them the strength to bear this sorrow. I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the minister tweeted in Hindi.
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik told reporters, “It is likely that there is some gas contamination. We are collecting samples from manholes. It is quite likely that some chemical reacted with methane in manholes.”
As the smell of the gas started spreading, many people moved out of the area.
The DC said the cordon at the scene of the leak will be extended. She said those who died in the incident did not show any symptoms of respiratory problems.
“It is likely that because of neurotoxins the deaths took place,” Ms. Malik added.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Singh Bains said, “A broken manhole has been found in the area and there was a strong smell emanating from it. There is a possibility that the chemical has been poured into he sewerage from that point”.
The Ludhiana DC said an NDRF team is engaged in extracting samples for various kinds of chemical tests.
(With inputs from PTI)
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