Gas leak affects hundreds in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal, Oct 15: At least 200 villagers took ill after a toxic gas leaked last night from a hitherto unidentified location in the Mandideep Industrial Area on the Bhopal-Raisen district border.

Bhopal district police personnel rapidly evacuated Raisen district's Keeratnagar, Maindua and Nayapura villages. About 100 villagers were rushed to the state capital's J P Hospital and these victims complained of burning sensation in the eyes and cough. Some of them even vomitted. Medical teams made a beeline for the affected area.

''The villagers were brought here in tractor-trolleys and other vehicles. The situation is under control and there is no trace of the gas now,'' said Bhopal's Additional Superintendent of Police Arvind Saxena who visited the affected area.

The leakage occurred near Bangrasia on the Bhopal-Bhojpur road and some residents of Bhojpur also complained of being ill at ease.

An investigation is underway to trace the source of the leak.

Confirming the incident, Raisen District Collector Arun Bhatt added that more than 200 persons were affected by the deadly vapours that could be either ammonia (NH3) or chlorine (Cl).

UNI