Munni Lal, who runs a dhaba a few steps away from the gas leak in Gyaspura, Ludhiana, Punjab, narrated the painful scene of Sunday morning with moist eyes. Munni Lal told that around seven o'clock in the morning suddenly a strange smell started coming and slowly he started suffocating.

When he came out of the dhaba and came on the road, he came to know that some gas had leaked near the milk booth. There was an uproar and some people were lying unconscious on the ground. The foul smell was so strong that whoever went towards the booth fell unconscious.

There was a stampede in the entire area and people started running hither and thither to save their lives. After about an hour, the police came and sealed the area and started relief work. When the police took out the dead body, it came to know that such a big accident had happened.

The people of the neighborhood got goosebumps seeing the dead bodies lying around. Munni Lal said that usually there is a lot of crowd in this area in the morning. But on Sunday, due to the holiday, the roads were deserted, otherwise the scene would have been even more horrifying.

Eleven people, including two children, died and 12 were admitted to the hospital on Sunday after inhaling poisonous gas in a residential area located on 33 Foota Road in the densely populated Gyaspura area of Ludhiana city. Eight of these people have been discharged. The gas leak continued till late evening.

Residents were evacuated from the affected area. The area of 300 meters has been sealed. On the spot, the NDRF team is engaged in rescue work and investigation into the cause of the gas leak. However, till now it is not known from where the gas leaked.

In the preliminary investigation, it has been suspected that some chemical has been put inside the sewerage, due to which this gas was generated. NDRF has also taken samples of manholes. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the accident. At the same time, the government announced to give two lakh each to the families of the dead and Rs 50 thousand to the injured.

The incident came to light at 7 am on Sunday when some people who had come to buy milk at a Goyal grocery store started fainting. On seeing it, the shopkeeper Sourav Goyal started having difficulty in breathing. After this there was noise, his brother Gaurav Goyal and others also came under the family. As everyone came down, they fainted due to gas.

Three members of Goyal's family died in the accident. At the same time, the entire family of Dr. Kavilash, who lived in front of the shop, died. The family consisted of Kavilash, his wife and three children. One of the deceased, who was in his 20s, is yet to be identified.

All the victims were originally from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and had settled in Ludhiana for work. Those who are under treatment in the hospital are still unconscious and not in a condition to talk. Two employees who rushed to the rescue also fainted. The NDRF team carried out rescue work and evacuated the people.

According to eyewitnesses, as soon as the information was received, the employees of PCR employee Tango 42 reached there. When one of them, Sawan Kumar, went ahead to save the people, he also fell unconscious. Then even the employees once again came in panic. While regaining consciousness, the employees covered their faces with cloth and put the victims in their car and took them to the hospital and immediately informed the senior officials. Of those who were taken to the hospital, 11 people died. SHO and ACP rank officials reached there as soon as the accident was reported.

The police staff reached there as soon as the information about people falling due to gas rising. The police immediately evacuated the area there and advised those who were ahead to cover their faces. The police sealed the entire area and no common man was allowed to go further. After this, the NDRF team reached the spot and started the investigation.

NDRF personnel went ahead wearing full kit and carrying oxygen cylinders. Wherever they had apprehension, they investigated. First the team reached Goyal Cold Drink Store and came to investigate from inside. After this, investigation was also done at Aarti Clinic, after which the NDRF team also reached near the sewerage.

For some time, the NDRF team and their experts from Bathinda also reached there, who along with the police administration and the district administration took the investigation forward. Similarly, the Municipal Corporation also sent its entire team to the sewerage. During this, his employees also entered the sewerage wearing full kit and making complete preparations with oxygen cylinders so that there is no harm.

Dr. Kavilash (40), his wife Varsha (35), daughter Kalpana (16), son Abhay (12), Aryan Narayan (10), Sourav Goyal (35), owner of Goyal Kariana Store, his wife Preeti (31), Mother Kamlesh Goyal (50), Navneet Kumar (39) his wife Neetu Devi (39) and an unknown person.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the loss of lives and said that NDRF teams are engaged in relief work. Describing the incident as extremely painful, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that all possible help is being provided. At the same time, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said in a tweet, the incident of gas leak in Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very painful. Police, district administration and NDRF teams are present on the spot. All possible help is being provided.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Amarjeet Singh Bains said, a broken manhole was found in the area and a strong smell was coming from it. It was also told that there was a blast in the sewerage. There is a possibility that chemical was put in the sewerage from that place. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu said it is suspected that someone may have disposed of some chemicals in the sewerage which led to the release of the toxic gas.