New Delhi –
A gas leak in the northern Indian state of Punjab on Sunday killed 11 people and hospitalized four, local media reported.
Police told the Press Trust of India news agency that the incident occurred in the industrial area of Ludhiana city and the cause of the gas leak is still unknown.
India’s National Disaster Response Force has cordoned off populated areas and evacuated residents.
Authorities were trying to ascertain the type of gas in the leak, PTI said, citing disaster response officials.
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Slavi Malik told the news agency that the gas may have spread from a manhole.
“We will be collecting samples from the manhole. It is very likely that some chemical reacted with the methane in the manhole,” she said.
State Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the leak was from a factory but did not provide details in a tweet.
