One dead, 11 fall ill after gas leak at Kalyan factory

Mumbai: A 34-year-old worker, Sanjay Sharma, of the Century Rayon Limited factory in Kalyan died on Thursday night after inhaling toxic gas that leaked from one of the factory's pipelines. Eleven other workers were rushed to the hospital on Thursday night after they inhaled the toxic gas.

According to the Ulhasnagar police, a team of workers were doing some repair work in one of the plants when the incident happened.

“The company has followed all safety norms. Our senior staff reached the spot immediately, and arranged to send the affected workers to hospital for treatment,” said Anil Vyas, public relations officer, Century Rayon.

Ankit Goyal, deputy commissioner of police, Ulhasnagar, confirmed the incident and said,  “After the incident we have registered an accidental death report. We are investigating the cause of the leakage, for that an industrial expert will visit the place and submit report to us. If there will be any foul play on the company's part we will take action.”

Sources said that the police is waiting for the report from experts who are scheduled to visit the site to determine whether there was any foul play or negligence involved in the incident.

According to police, the factory is located around 46km from Mumbai city. The incident took place around 10 pm, when a team of workers were repairing a pipeline in one of the plants. Sharma, died on the spot after inhaling the poisonous gas, while 11 others were taken to the hospital and are stable.

A team of fire officials and local police rushed to the spot and stopped the gas leak.