Panic Grips Nagpur Locality as Chlorine Gas Leak Sends Residents to Hospital

More than 40 people fell ill after a chlorine gas leak at a water treatment plant in Nagpur’s Godhni area in the early hours of Monday, triggering panic among residents and prompting a coordinated rescue operation. The incident occurred around 1 am at the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran’s Godhni Municipal Council Water Treatment Plant. Chlorine reportedly escaped from a cylinder with a capacity of 900 kg, allowing the gas to spread towards nearby residential areas.

As the gas moved into surrounding localities, several residents complained of coughing and breathing difficulties. The leak caused panic in nearby settlements, with residents seeking to move away from the affected area. Authorities advised people living close to the plant to shift to safer locations as emergency teams worked to contain the situation. Several people who reported symptoms were taken to hospitals for medical attention, while others made their own way to healthcare facilities.

Following the alert, civic fire personnel rushed to the plant with two water tenders and breathing apparatus to assist with the emergency response. Teams from Orange City Water Pvt Ltd, which is responsible for supplying drinking water in Nagpur, also joined the operation. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force were deployed to help contain the leak and ensure that the affected cylinder could be safely neutralised.

Also Read: IIT Guwahati Student Dies After Accidental Fall into Brahmaputra

Police and emergency personnel also moved quickly to protect residents living near the plant. An official from Mankapur police station said residents within a 200-metre radius of the facility were evacuated as a precaution. The area was cordoned off to prevent people from entering the affected zone while rescue and containment operations were underway. According to the police, some residents reached hospitals on their own, while others were transported for treatment with assistance from the police.

The rescue operation continued for several hours and was completed around 5.30 am after the chlorine leak was successfully plugged. Following the containment of the leak, NDRF personnel, firefighters and workers from Orange City Water took further measures to neutralise the remaining gas. The chlorine cylinder was placed inside a tank containing water mixed with caustic soda as part of the neutralisation process, according to the civic authorities.

Authorities have since appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid believing or spreading rumours about the incident. The multi-agency response helped bring the situation under control before further spread of the gas could occur. Officials are continuing to assess the circumstances surrounding the leak and its impact on residents, while those who fell ill are receiving medical attention. The incident has also highlighted the need for strict safety and emergency-response measures at facilities handling chlorine and other hazardous substances.

Also Read: Assam Flood Death Toll Rises to 62, 7 Lakh People Affected