Mumbai About 40 people have been admitted to the hospital due to gas leaking from the reserve chlorine cylinder at the water treatment plant located in Faguji Nagar of Godhani Nagar Panchayat, Nagpur, Maharashtra last night.
The condition of three of these people is said to be critical. As soon as information about this incident was received, teams of Nagpur Fire Department, NDRF, police and other security agencies also reached the spot. As a precautionary measure, an area of 200 meters was sealed and movement of people was stopped.
A police officer doing relief and rescue work on the spot said that two cylinders of chlorine gas were kept in the plant. One of these cylinders was in use, while the other was kept in reserve.
At around 12.30 in the night, gas suddenly started leaking from the reserve cylinder. Within no time, chlorine gas spread in the surrounding area.
As soon as information about the incident was received, the local social activist informed the police. Police reached the spot and evacuated the area of about 200 meters and took people to safe places.
40 people affected by the gas were admitted to Max Hospital, Mayo Hospital and Sparsh Hospital located on Godhani Road. Three of these patients are in ICU.
To control the leakage, the NDRF team is trying to stop the gas leakage on the spot. Along with this, the Health Center team is also reaching the area and conducting door-to-door health checkups of the people.
It is being told that no employee was present in the plant at the time of gas leak. In such a situation, serious questions are being raised regarding the security arrangements of the plant, absence of employees at night and handling of chlorine cylinders.