Date:14/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/14/stories/2008081457130400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

20 hospitalised due to gas leak

Staff Reporter

Close call: RIMS Director Sriram Rathod calling on victims of gas leak.

ADILABAD: As many as 20 persons were hospitalised on Wednesday after inhaling chlorine gas that leaked from a cylinder at the drinking water supply pump near Adilabad Municipality.

The affected persons included four press photographers and cameramen, four Fire Department personnel, two college girls and a police constable, all of whom suffered from irritation of lungs and vomiting.

The gas leak was caused after a municipal tractor hit the chlorine cylinder connected mechanically to the drinking water sump.

The gas is used to treat the water before supply through the network.

The incident attracted passersby and press photographers too.

Those who went too close to the leaking gas fainted on the spot after inhaling the gas. Fire fighters were able to close the valve and save the situation from worsening further. RIMS Resident Medical Officer D. Vinay Kumar said the condition of the gas affected persons will progressively improve.

Adilabad MLA C. Ramchander Reddy, TRS leader Ch. Suhasini Reddy and Telugu Mahila district president G. Sujatha visited RIMS .