Saturday, September 3 2005 10:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Sambalpur (Orissa): Over 100 people were taken ill as chlorine gas leaked from the premises of a drinking water purification plant at the Railway Colony in Sambalpur last night (September 2, 2005), police said.

An unspecified number of the affected persons were taken to the V.S.S. Medical College HoHwrla while the others were rushed to the district headquarter hospital and railway hospital here. The ailing people were rushed to different hospitals in police vehicles and ambulances.

Experts from an industry at Hirakud town were summoned to plug the leak, initially reported at around 9 pm, which was stated to have been controlled, though not fully plugged, sources said.

The leak developed in one of the chlorine gas cylinders kept in the water treatment plant.

The gas spread across the Stationpara, Thakurpara, Beheramunda, Barehipalli, Gopalmal and Railway Colony. Traders in the area downed their shutters in a hurry as the panic spread while a large number of people started fleeing as gas began spreading in an area of one km radius. Panic and confusion gripped the crowded Khetrajpur locality, where the city's main railway station is located, as the pungent smell of the gas spread fast within an area of one km radius. Many residents bolted doors and windows from inside to escape from the smell.

Passengers, waiting for the Bhubaneswar-bound Tapaswini Express, also ran out of the area.

The ailing persons complained of irritation in eye, breathing problem and vomiting tendency.