Ludhiana gas leak led to several death
While the cause of the leak is still being investigated, it is believed that the gas may have come from a partially open manhole in the densely populated neighbourhood and spread to the nearby shops and homes.
In the early hours of Sunday morning (April 30), a gas leak in Ludhiana, Punjab, claimed the lives of 11 individuals while injuring four others and requiring hospitalisation. As of present, there are no clear causes for the leak.
Ludhiana’s deputy commissioner, Surabhi Malik, stated that a magisterial inquiry is currently focused on the incident. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has detected elevated levels of hydrogen sulphide gas, which is a neurotoxin, through the air quality sensors. The investigation is aimed at determining the potential contribution of this gas to the disaster, and it is possible that the neurotoxins released led to fatalities. The situation is being thoroughly investigated.
The Ludhiana neighbourhood of Giaspur is densely populated and home to various factories. According to the police in a FIR, while the investigation into the cause of the leak is ongoing, it is possible that deadly gas may have come from a partially exposed manhole in the neighbourhood and spread to the neighbouring shops and homes. The autopsy results said that “inhalation poisoning” was to blame for the deaths.
“Inhalation poisoning has been identified as the cause of death, but the specific sort of poison won’t be known until the viscera are examined. One inhalation of hydrogen sulphide can be fatal because it is so poisonous. According to Dr. Charan Kamal, a forensic expert at Civil Hospital in Ludhiana, “Probably some acidic waste was thrown into the sewer, which reacted with methane, carbon monoxide, and other sewerage gases to produce hydrogen sulphide.” Ten of the deceased were subjected to postmortem examinations at this facility.
“ There are many cases where high hydrogen sulphide can be present. It shows that the sewer system was not cleaned thoroughly, which is why the gas continued to form. The sewerage system did not have any valves that would have allowed the gases to escape, according to a top Punjab Pollution Control Board official who asked to remain anonymous.
- What Are Neurotoxins?
Neurotoxins are noxious compounds that can harm the neurological system directly. When the normal function of the nervous system is altered by exposure to hazardous substances, whether they are created naturally or artificially, neurotoxicity develops. Neurons or nerve cells, which are crucial for the transmission and processing of impulses in the brain and other regions of the nervous system, can eventually be disrupted or even killed by these substances.
According to Dr. Sandeep Goyal, Medical Superintendent at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in Ludhiana, “They directly attack the respiratory tract of the body, thereby overpowering the oxygen concentration of the body and then the nervous system as well.”
Common neurotoxic gases include methane, hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, according to Dr. Vitull Kumar Gupta of The Associations of Physicians of India in Malwa, Punjab. He continued, “Methane and carbon monoxide are odourless gases, whereas hydrogen sulphide has a pungent odour and can be fatal to humans at higher concentrations.”
The deputy commissioner has stated that it is probable that a chemical may have reacted with methane gas, which is normally produced during the breakdown of human waste, in the current instance. To evaluate this, sewage samples were collected from nearby manholes.Chemical oxidation, which involves adding oxidants like hydrogen peroxide to the wastewater, is used to remove gases like hydrogen sulphide from wastewater.
- India’s Most Famous Gas Tragedy That Made Headlines
The Bhopal gas tragedy was one of the world’s worst industrial disasters that occurred in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, on December 2-3, 1984. The tragedy was caused by the accidental release of 40 tonnes of highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL).
The gas leak killed thousands of people instantly and resulted in long-term health problems for hundreds of thousands of people in the surrounding area. The official death toll was around 3,800, but some estimates put the number of deaths at over 15,000. The gas also caused severe respiratory problems, blindness, and other health issues for many years after the disaster.
The immediate response to the tragedy was hampered by a lack of preparedness and inadequate emergency response measures. The local hospitals were overwhelmed by the number of patients, and there were not enough trained medical personnel or resources to provide effective treatment.
The disaster led to a major outcry from the public and activists, who demanded justice for the victims and better industrial safety regulations. Union Carbide and its officials were accused of negligence and violating safety standards, and faced legal action in India and the US. In 1989, Union Carbide paid $470 million in compensation to the Indian government, but the victims’ groups claimed that the amount was inadequate and demanded higher compensation and better medical facilities.
The Bhopal gas tragedy remains a symbol of corporate negligence and the need for stronger safety regulations and accountability in the industrial sector. The disaster also led to the establishment of the National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (NIREH) and the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) for the treatment and rehabilitation of the gas victims.
