200 people suffocate after leak of chlorine in Jangaon; 50 hospitalised

WARANGAL: Around 200 persons suffered breathing problems following a leak of chlorine gas from a cylinder of the water treatment plant at the Mission Bhagiratha project site late on Thursday. The site was near the newly constructed overhead tank at Siddipet Court Road opposite to the Area Sub-Jail in the Jangaon district.

As many as 600 people were living in Gokul Nagar and Girnigadda and the surrounding colonies. Some 200 persons started vomiting amid a burning sensation in the eyes and coughing. Of these, around 50 persons were rushed to the government main hospital and the remaining to the nearby private hospitals.

According to the locals, the leakage occurred due to the negligence of the municipal staff. After the construction of a new overhead tank at the area sub-jail four years back, municipal officials abandoned the 40kg gas cylinder there.

On Thursday night, leakage occurred from the cylinder, creating a panic situation among the people in the surrounding colonies. Police accompanied by municipal staff rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations.

Hospital superintendent Dr Sugunakar Raju said the affected people complained of pain in the throat, cough and a burning sensation in their eyes and some of them started vomiting. All those who were hospitalized were given treatment and they would recover soon, he said.

Meanwhile, additional collector Prapul Desai who visited the government's main hospital consoled the patients and ordered an inquiry to fix the responsibility on errant officials of the municipal department.