Eleven people, including three children, allegedly died after inhaling toxic gas in the city's densely populated Giaspura area on Sunday, with authorities suspecting that the noxious emission was caused by the dumping of some chemicals in the sewer.
Four more people were taken ill and are being treated at a hospital, officials said, adding that the area had been sealed, residents had been evacuated, and a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was on the scene following the incident.
The source of the leak and the type of gas have yet to be determined, according to the police, who added that the area has been sealed off and a fire department and an ambulance have been dispatched.
A 50-member team of the National Disaster Response Force has also reached the site.
Police said the casualties comprise five females and six males. Two boys aged 10 and 13 are among the 11 who died in the incident, they said.
Through the public address system, people are being called to stay away from the area, said Sidhu.
Police also deployed drones to check for other victims who could be lying unconscious.
The deceased were identified as Abhay (13), Aryan (10), Kalpna (16), Kamlesh (60), Varsha (35), Sourav (35), Preety (31), Kavilash (40), Navneet (39), Neetu Devi (39) and an unidentified person.
Heart-rending scenes were witnessed outside the mortuary of the civil hospital, where the bodies were brought for post-mortem.
An NDRF official said it was yet to be found which gas caused the deaths.
“We will check it first then we will let you know,” the official said in a response to a query.
A district administration official said a team of the NDRF, which has reached here, 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, the official further said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the incident was very painful and added that all possible help is being provided.
As the smell of the gas started spreading, many people moved out of the area.
The DC said the cordon at the scene of the leak will be extended. She said those who died in the incident did not show any symptoms of respiratory problems.
“It is 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 is a possibility 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, will ascertain the source and the type of gas.
The Ludhiana DC said an NDRF team is engaged in extracting samples for various kinds of chemical tests.
She said there was no need to panic and asked people not to fall prey to any rumour-mongering.
She also appealed to people to stay away from the area. “A check will be conducted to see how far this gas has spread,” she said.
“We are collecting samples from manholes to just check what it is exactly and to what extent it spread,” Malik added.
She further said that CCTV cameras were being scanned.
The DC said different teams of district administration, police, municipal corporation and Punjab Pollution Control Board are stationed at the site.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu said it was apprehended that someone disposed of some chemicals in the sewerage which led to the emission of the toxic gas.
“A cat was also found dead at the incident site,” said Sidhu.
“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…,” Chief Minister Mann said in a tweet in Punjabi.
