11 dead due to gas leak in Giaspura area of Ludhiana

Eleven people died after inhaling toxic gas in the city's thickly-populated Giaspura area on Sunday, police said. Four more people, who were taken ill, were undergoing treatment at a hospital, they said. The source of the leakage and the type of the gas are yet to be ascertained, they added.

A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also reached the site.

Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu confirmed that nine people have so far died in the incident.

A district administration official said a team of NDRF, which has reached here, will ascertain the source and the type of gas.

As it was a thickly-populated area, the immediate priority was to evacuate people from the place, the official further said.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the incident was very painful and added that all possible help is being provided.

"The incident of gas leak in Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very painful. Teams of police, district administration and NDRF are present on the spot. Every possible help is being provided..," Mann said in a tweet in Punjabi.