Gujarat: 6 dead, 23 hospitalised after gas leak in Surat

SURAT: At least six people were killed and 23 others have been hospitalised after a gas leak at a company in Sachin GIDC area of Surat on Thursday morning.
Among the 23 injured, seven are on ventilators and in critical condition. Those who fell sick due to the gas inhalation were admitted to New Civil Hospital in Surat.

Investigative agencies suspect that some chemical was being dumped illegally in an open runnel from a tanker after which the gas started spreading in the locality.
The incident took place on road number 3 of Sachin GIDC near Vishwaprem Dyeing and Printing Mills at around 3.30am. All the deceased are employees of the same mill.
Police started an investigation in the incident to find out exactly what had happened. Driver and cleaner of the tanker are unconscious and once they recover cops will question them.
Majority of the victims include labourers who work with the textile mill and were on night duty when they started fainting on the ground. Few labourers who were sleeping on the roadside also fell unconscious.
On being alerted, teams of Surat Fire and Emergency Services (SFES) and police teams rushed to spot and started rescue. All affected were shifted to hospital for treatment.
"All affected people are from Vishwaprem Dyeing and Printing Mills which is near the spot of incident. Six are dead and 23 including the tanker driver and cleaner are hospitalised. It is to be investigated why the tanker containing chemicals was there and exactly how the victims died," said Aayush Oak, district collector, Surat.
"A team from Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), Police, Forensic science Laboratory (FSL), fire brigade are investigating," Oak added.
"Police have started an investigation to find out what caused the spread of hazardous gas and the FSL team is working on a type of gas leak. Police also started a procedure to register offence," said city police commissioner, Ajay Kumar Tomar.