Nadiad: At least 22 persons were hospitalized and over 250 houses vacated in this headquarter town of Kheda district of Central Gujarat today following an incident of Chlorine gas leakage.

Collector Kheda Kuldeep Arya said that the gas leakage happened in Pragatinagar locality of the town.

‘Some tankers/cylinders filled with Chlorine meant for purification of the water supplied to the local residents, were kept in a store of an office of the water supply department. These somehow started leaking owing to which some people felt breathlessness and were hospitalized,’ the collector said adding that some of aged affected persons were being given oxygen.

As per the information received so far a total of 22 persons were hospitalized in the civil hospital but none of them were critical, he said.

Meanwhile over 14 fire fighters and more than 30 employees of the department were involved in the efforts to control the leakage. The whole area has been cordoned off. Chlorine is though not poisonous yet if it is inhaled in large amount can cause death.

The district administration made announcement on the loudspeakers for the people living close-by to leave the area till the leakage is controlled.

Over 250 houses in and around the place of leakage where a water supply tank was also situated has been vacated.

The collector said that the leakage will be completely controlled in two hours time.

DeshGujarat