Ludhiana: At least eleven people have died and four others fell ill after a a gas leak incident in Giaspura area of Ludhiana in Punjab district on Sunday.
The deceased include two children who were 10 and 13 years old, sources said.
Four people have been hospitalised following the treatment, reported ANI. “A total of 11 persons are dead. There are five females and six males including 2 boys of 10 years and 13 years,” the report quoted an official.
A 50-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also reached the site. However, there is no information yet on what caused the leakage and the type of the gas. Efforts are on to ascertain the nature of gas that leaked.
The area has been sealed while a fire brigade and an ambulance have been deployed at the site.
The factory is situated in a thickly populated area and the mission is on to evacuate people.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reportedly said that the incident was very said and added that all possible help is being provided. “The incident of gas leak in Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very painful. Teams of police, district administration and NDRF are present on the spot. Every possible help is being provided..,” Mann said in a tweet in Punjabi.
A district administration official said a team of the NDRF, which has reached the spot, 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.
