Surat Gas Leak Kills 6, 20 Taken Ill

Surat: Six persons died and 20 fell sick following a gas leak incident here early on Thursday.

The sick have been admitted to the Civil Hospital here. The incident took place in the Sachin GIDC area of the city, Hospital in-charge Omkar Chaudhary told ANI.

There are conflicting reports as to how exactly the incident occurred. Some reports said the accidental gas leakage reportedly took place when a tanker driver was pouring chemicals into a drain near the printing mill in the area, while others said that the gas leaked from a tanker parked outside the industrial area, even as workers in large numbers were sleeping near a dye company in the vicinity. The direction of the wind reportedly helped carry the fumes rapidly.

The fire department, which got a call at 4.25 am, rushed to the spot and carried out rescue and relief operations from early morning.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took to Twitter to express his condolences. “Many people have unfortunately died due to gas leak in Surat. May the departed souls rest in peace and their kin get the strength to bear this. I also pray for the well-being of those who have fallen ill in this incident,” he wrote.