Ludhiana (Punjab): At least 11 people, including 5 females, were killed while 11 others fell unconscious after a gas leakage was reported at a factory in Punjab's Ludhiana on Sunday, a senior district official said.
Also, there were six males on the list of total deceased. NDRF teams have been rushed to the factory and a team of doctors and a fire brigade also reached the spot. "Definitely, it is a gas leak case. The NDRF team is present at the spot to evacuate the people and will conduct the rescue operation," said Swati, SDM Ludhiana West.
"Exact reason will only come when we will go to the incident spot. We are waiting for the NDRF, they are specialised in this," another officer said. The injured were rushed to a hospital, he said. Police are at the spot and have sealed the area. More details are awaited. Further investigation is underway.
Police also confirmed nine deaths. Masked cops are at the spot and have sealed the area. The injured were rushed to a hospital, police said. As it was a thickly-populated area, the immediate priority was to evacuate people from the place, the official further said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the incident was very painful and added that all possible help is being provided. "The incident of the 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.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu confirmed that nine people have so far died in the incident. Contradictory reports are emerging from several quarters. According to another source, the number of dead people might be at least a dozen.
Locals said several people were seen fainting after this accident and they were being taken to the hospital.
A senior police officer in Ludhiana present on the spot said several people, who were taken ill after the leakage, were being rescued by doctors and other healthcare staff. He said the administration stepped up rescue efforts for the affected from the spot.
According to sources, the incident happened at Goyal Milk Plant near the Sitara cinema. More than a dozen people have fainted due to the gas leak, including the police officers who reached the spot. After the incident, the area has now been sealed. Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Ludhiana South Rajinderpal Kaur Chhina described the incident as unfortunate. She said it is yet to be ascertained what led to the tragedy.
