Punjab Health Minister orders enquiry into Mohali chlorine gas leak

Tribune News Service
Mohali, June 8

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Monday ordered an enquiry into the chlorine gas leak in Mohali which caused breathlessness and subsequent hospitalization of nearly four dozen people on Sunday night.

The affected were admitted to the civil hospital in Phase VI here.

Sidhu visited the colony near the waterworks in Balongi village, where the leak had occurred, and enquired about the health of the people in the locality. He said an enquiry would be held to fix responsibility.

All the patients, barring one, has been discharged from the hospital.

Panic had spread in the area after the gas leak on Sunday night as all the residents living around the waterworks complained of breathlessness and vomiting. Even two fire brigade employees, who reached the spot, were rushed to Civil Hospital. Later, the fire department officials dug the ground and buried the cylinder, but the gas continued to leak.

Civil Surgeon Dr Manjit Singh said that those admitted to the hospital were mostly women, children and elderly persons. He said around 45 people had come to the hospital and they were discharged this morning as they were stable. Singh said only one person was admitted to the hospital at present as he was under observation even though his this condition was also stable.

According to Water supply and sanitation officials, the waterworks is under the control of the village panchayat and the chlorine cylinder at the waterworks was outdated. The bottom of the cylinder had become worn out and was leaking.