CHANDIGARH: Three workers, including a father and son, died while two others were hospitalised after allegedly inhaling toxic fumes following a toxic gas leak during sewage line cleaning at wrench and spanner manufacturing factory in Ludhiana today, which triggered panic among workers.
The incident occurred at a factory on RK Road in Industrial Area-A, where the workers had been called to clean a sewage line.
They were suddenly overcome by toxic fumes while carrying out the cleaning operation.
Three of them died on the spot, while two others lost consciousness and were rushed to a hospital.
Meanwhile, the doctors said the condition of the two hospitalised workers is stable.
At the time of the incident, the father and son were reportedly loading soil discharged from the lower section of a machine into a trolley when they came into direct contact with the gas.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said that a case has been registered against the factory management for alleged negligence.
"The investigation will determine responsibility and ascertain the exact nature of the gas involved, which has not yet been confirmed,’’ he added.
He further said that the police will also examine whether mandatory safety protocols were followed during the sewer-cleaning operation. On the other hand the local authorities launched a detailed probe into the incident, including compliance with mandatory safety measures for hazardous work in industrial units.
As a precautionary measure, the factory premises have been evacuated while officials continue their investigation into the incident. Officials said it would be possible to determine the real cause of the incident only after the inquiry report is submitted.
The gas reportedly spread rapidly through the premises within minutes, creating chaos inside the manufacturing unit.
The workers allegedly started experiencing breathing difficulties, severe eye irritation, and suffocation soon after the leak. Following information about the incident, police personnel, fire brigade teams, and officials from the health department rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations.
The emergency teams evacuated workers from the factory and shifted them to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana Member of Parliament Amarinder Singh Raja Warring expressed grief over the death of three workers due to the gas leak, which left some others ill.
He demanded that the government must pay immediate and adequate compensation to the bereaved families.
Warring said, "I am deeply saddened by the tragic gas leak incident in Ludhiana that claimed the lives of three workers and left others seriously ill.’’
He said the tragedy was deeply distressing having caused great suffering, loss, or destruction, affecting individuals, families, and communities in profound ways.