Baramulla, Aug 21: At least 17 people fell ill after inhaling ‘toxic gas’ emanating from a cylinder kept in a scrap dealers shop at Jhelum market in Baramulla town on Sunday.
The affected persons, who complained of breathlessness, coughing and uneasiness after the gas leak were immediately rushed to the district hospital Baramulla for treatment, the locals said adding the incident occurred at around 9 AM after the scrap dealer tried to open the cylinder.
“We immediately provided them oxygen and medicine. The condition of the admitted persons is now stable,” the medical superintendent of district hospital Baramulla, Dr. Nanda told Greater Kashmir.
The scrap dealer Syed Manzoor son of Syed Muhammad Lateef told Greater Kashmir that three unidentified persons from Uri brought this large sized cylinder weighing around 1.70 quintals on Friday and assured that it was empty.
“But soon after we opened the cylinder, toxic gas started to come out of it affecting the people,” Syed Manzoor said.
Eyewitnesses said they saw several people lying unconscious on the road near the scrap dealer’s shop after inhaling the gas.
The cylinder was immediately thrown by the people into the Jhelum after the incident, the witnesses said.
The locals have demanded immediate action and arrest of people involved in the selling of cylinder. “The authorities should thoroughly probe the matter and book the culprits,” the locals said.
Police has registered a case and started investigation into the matter.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST