59 ill after chlorine gas leak in Mumbai, 7 critical

13:40, 14 July 2010

MUMBAI. July 14. KAZINFORM. About 60 people, mostly students, were taken ill after suspected chlorine gas leaked from a scrapyard in the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) premises close to a college early on Wednesday. The condition of seven people is critical, officials said, adding that 500 people were evacuated from the area. Kazinform refers to Indiatimes.

TV reports earlier said that three people have died in the leak. However, there has not been any confirmation of the deaths.

"Seven are in a critical state, while the others have minor complaints of health problems. There are no fatal casualties so far," Dean of Sir J.J. Hospital T.P. Lahane told IANS.

According to an official of the fire brigade, the gas leak was noticed around 4 a.m. when the victims started complaining of burning eyes, breathlessness and nausea.

The source of the leakage was traced to a scrapyard in the MBT premises, adjacent to the LBS College in Sewri, south-central Mumbai.

As a precautionary measure, police ordered the evacuation of nearly 500 people staying in the vicinity.

The condition of all the victims admitted to the Sir J. J. Hospital is reported to be stable and 14 were discharged after treatment. Kazinform cites Indiatimes. See www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com for full version.

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