Tragedy struck Ludhiana, a densely populated city in the north Indian state of Punjab, as 11 people, including three children, lost their lives and four others were critically ill after inhaling a poisonous gas on Sunday. The majority of the victims were daily-wage migrants who were residing in the area.
Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik stated that the source and type of the gas are yet to be identified. She said that the gas could have originated from manholes and that samples were being collected to determine the gas’s nature and source. The Deputy Commissioner further added that it is likely that a chemical substance had reacted with methane in the manholes, and if it is found to have been dumped unsafely by a factory owner, strict action will be taken against them.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was deployed to the area, and the entire area was evacuated. The NDRF personnel, along with the officials from the district administration, sealed off the area and moved the locals to safer places.
Official sources have reported that four people who complained of breathing problems were in critical condition and were admitted to nearby hospitals.
Shambhu Narayan, a resident of the area, lost his nephew, Kabilash Kumar, along with his wife and three children. Another local resident, Ram Murat, lost his relative, Saurav Goyal, along with his wife, brother, and mother. His eight-month-old boy fainted but is now out of danger. Gaurav’s condition is critical.
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, expressed his grief over the incident and assured the public that all possible help is being provided by the police, government, and NDRF teams at the scene.
Sanjeev Arora, an MP from Ludhiana, said that most of the victims belonged to poor families and promised to provide free medical treatment to the injured at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). He also spoke to the DMCH Principal and arranged for emergency facilities if needed.
The incident has caused panic among the locals, with some leaving their homes to save themselves. The authorities have urged the public to remain calm and have promised a thorough investigation into the matter.
(Pic from open source. Internet)
