NEW DELHI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and many others taken ill on Monday following a toxic gas leak inside a hand tool manufacturing factory in the northern Indian state of Punjab, police said.
The incident took place at an industrial area in Ludhiana, about 105 km west of Chandigarh, the capital city of Punjab.
"We are being told that a tank cleaning work was underway in a factory at Industrial Area A in Ludhiana when toxic gas suddenly started leaking. Within minutes, the gas spread throughout the premises. The gas concentration was so intense that workers inside had no time to escape," a senior police official said.
"Some collapsed on the spot due to suffocation and severe eye irritation. Workers present inside the factory said they started experiencing breathing difficulties," the official said, adding that "Unfortunately, three people -- the factory owner, his son and a worker -- were killed, and two others are still undergoing treatment at the hospital."
Following the incident, police personnel, fire brigade teams, disaster management personnel and officials from the health department rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations.
Authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the gas leak. The police have registered a case and ordered an investigation into the incident.
The incident triggered panic in the area. ■
