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"My uncle and his family were asleep at their home when the incident occurred. All of them were killed," said a teary-eyed Kapil Kumar, a resident of Ludhiana's Giaspura as tragedy struck the region on Sunday, 30 April after a gas leak killed 11 people including three children.
Residents of Giaspura woke up to the news of several deaths, most likely due to neurotoxins following a gas leak that has hospitalised at least four people.
While the type of gas and the source of it is still being ascertained, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have evacuated residents from the area and cordoned it off.
Ten of the 11 deceased so far are from three families alone.
'Chemical Might Have Reacted With Methane in Manholes': What Authorities Said
Swati Tiwana, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Ludhiana, said: "It is definitely a gas leak case. The NDRF team is present at the spot to evacuate the people and will conduct the rescue operation."
Apart from rescue personnel, a team of doctors was also rushed to the spot.
Further, while it has not been confirmed what led to the leak, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Siddhu said that the initial report suggests that somebody carelessly disposed off chemicals in a sewer, which led to the gas leak.
"NDRF experts are checking type of gas. I cannot comment on the type of gas yet. It will be half-baked. We have used drones to check if someone lying unconscious on terraces or rooftops but no one else found yet. All who got unconscious have been evacuated," he said.
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik also echoed Siddhu's statement, saying, "We are going to collect samples from manholes. It is quite likely that some chemical reacted with methane in manholes."
Police officials were also seen asking people to wear masks or cover their mouths in some way to protect themselves from the gas.
'My Uncle's Entire Family Was Unconscious': Residents Narrate Ordeal
The police said that they have managed to identify 10 out of the 11 deceased persons so far, who belonged to three families.
The deceased include a man named Kavilash, his wife Varsha and their three children Kalpana (16), Abhay (13), and Aryan (10).
Another man named Sourav Goyal died in the incident along with his wife Preety and mother Kamlesh. Goyal's brother Gaurav has been undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Navneet Kumar and his wife Neetu also died due to the leak, while Kumar's brother Nitin is undergoing treatment.
Anjan Kumar, a resident of the area said, "My uncle and his entire family are unconscious. The bodies of two of them have also turned blue."
'All Possible Help Being Provided': CM Bhagwant Mann
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tweeted that all possible help is being provided and that further details are awaited.
He tweeted in Punjabi: "The incident of a gas leak at a factory in the Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very sad. Police, government and NDRF teams are present at the spot. All possible help is being provided."
Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh also said that the Punjab government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of those who were killed and Rs 50,000 to those who have been injured.
"I will meet the family members of the deceased and provide Rs 2 lakhs ex-gratia compensation and Rs 50,000 will be provided to the people who are admitted to the hospital. A proper investigation will be done," he said while addressing the press.
Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu expressed grief over the incident and extended her sympathies to the families of the deceased.
"I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of many people, including children and women, in the accident in Ludhiana. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and wish speedy recovery to all those affected," she said on Twitter.
(With inputs from Neeraj Upadhyay).
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