ELEVEN people, including three children, died allegedly after inhaling toxic gas in the city’s thickly-populated Giaspura area on Sunday, with authorities suspecting that dumping of some chemicals in the sewer led to the noxious emission. Four more persons, who were taken ill, are undergoing treatment at a hospital, officials said, adding the area was sealed, the residents were evacuated and a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was at the spot following the incident. Though the source of the leakage and the type of the gas were yet to be ascertained, the officials said that they suspected that the poisonous gas was released after some chemical was disposed of in the sewerage in the area and reacted with methane. Giaspura is a thickly populated area with a migrant population. Several industrial and residential buildings are located here.

 

All the victims belonged to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and had been staying in Ludhiana. The incident came to light on Sunday morning when some people who came to a local grocery store to buy milk started fainting. Four persons died on the spot while others were rushed to the hospital. Among the dead were three members of the family that owned the store and five from another. Police said five females and six males were among the dead.

 

The district administration announced Rs 2 lakh compensation each for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those who were taken ill in the incident. Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief at the lossof lives and said the NDRF teamis engaged in relief work. Punjab Chief MinisterBhagwant Mann BhagwantMann said the incident wasvery painful and added that all possible help is being provided.“It is likely that there is somegas contamination.We are collecting samples from manholes. It is quite likely that somechemical reacted with methanein manholes,” LudhianaDeputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik told reporters. As the smell of the gas started spreading, many peoplemoved out of the area. The DC said the cordon at the scene of the leak will be extended.Shesaidthosewho died in the incident did not show any symptoms of respiratory problems.“Itis likely that because of neurotoxins the deaths took place,” 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 isapossibility that the chemical has been poured into the sewerage from that point”. A district administration official said a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which has reached here,willascertainthesource and the type of gas. The Ludhiana DC said an NDRF team is engaged in extracting samples for various kinds of chemical tests. She saidthere wasnoneed topanicandaskedpeoplenot to fall prey to any rumourmongering. She also appealed to people to stay away from the area. “Acheck willbe conductedtoseehow far this gas has spread,” she said.“We arecollectingsamples from manholes to just check what it is exactly and to what extent it spread,” Malik added. The deceased wereidentifiedasAbhay(13), Aryan (10), Kalpna (16), Kamlesh (60), Varsha (35), Sourav (35), Preety (31), Kavilash (40), Navneet (39), Neetu Devi (39) and an unidentified person. DEEPLY SADDENED BY LOSS OF LIVES, SAYS PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU: President Droupadi Murmu said she was deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the Ludhiana gas leak incident and expressedhercondolencesto the bereaved families.