New Delhi (India), April 30, 2023: Tragedy struck Ludhiana in the northern Indian state of Punjab, as a gas leak claimed the lives of at least 11 individuals, while 11 more were rushed to the hospital.
According to a high-ranking city official, the entire area has been evacuated, and a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to the site. The police have cordoned off the affected area and are urging locals to stay away.
Expressing grief over the incident, Punjab’s Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, took to Twitter to offer his condolences and assured that the police, government, and NDRF teams were present at the scene, providing all possible help.
As the authorities investigate the cause of the leak, Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner, Surabhi Malik, speculated that the deaths might have resulted from “gas contamination” caused by a chemical reaction between methane in manholes. ANI news agency reported that the NDRF is in the process of retrieving samples for verification.
India has a troubled history of industrial disasters, with the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy being one of the worst in history. This event claimed the lives of over 3,500 individuals and caused thousands more to suffer long-term health issues. The Andhra Pradesh gas leak in 2020 and the New Delhi gas leak in 2017 are also recent examples of industrial disasters in India that have resulted in significant casualties and injuries.
