CHANDIGARH: Three persons died and 11 were injured in an ammonia gas leak from food processing factory in Sandharsi village on the Ghanaur-Shambu road in Rajpura near Patiala.
Before the gas leak, a blast took place in Himalaya Fresh Protein Factory Private Limited of Shambhu in Rajpura near Patiala as one of the cylinder's filled with ammonia might have exploded inside the food processing unit, around 1.30 am and continued till the wee hours. At that time the factory employees were working in the peas packaging unit. As the blast was heard at a nearby village, locals from there rushed to the unit.
The injured were rushed to the nearby hospital where four of them were declared brought dead. The rest were later shifted to Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala and four seriously injured were further referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh. The doctors said at least four of the 11 admitted were seriously injured.
The eight injured worked at the same factory unit, while the others were living in the surrounding areas. The residents from the village were evacuated to safer places.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has announced a magisterial probe and an ex-gratia compensation for the victims in the Patiala ammonia gas cylinder explosion.
He directed a magisterial inquiry that would go into all aspects of the incident and pin responsibility, according to an official spokesperson. Amarinder has also ordered the Patiala Deputy Commissioner to personally oversee the rescue and relief operations at the mishap site at the food processing unit.
He has directed the civil and police administration to extend all possible assistance to the victims and support the joint team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Chemical experts from National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) that is carrying out relief operations.
He announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of the kin of deceased, besides free treatment to the injured, admitted in the Government Rajindra Hospital. The DC, on the directive of the Chief Minister, visited the injured in the hospital.