One dead, 18 hospitalised after chlorine gas leak near Mumbai

Palghar: A 59-year-old man died and 18 others, including five fire brigade personnel, were hospitalised after chlorine gas leaked from an old cylinder in Vasai town in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Tuesday, officials said.

The hospitalised persons also include a boy, two teenage girls and five women, they said.

The incident occurred around 3.30 pm during some ongoing work near a water tank close to the Diwanman crematorium, Resident Deputy Collector Subhash Bagde, who is also the CEO of the District Disaster Management Authority, said.

"A 10 to 15-year-old chlorine cylinder began leaking from its valve, releasing toxic fumes in the surrounding area. Fire brigade personnel from Suncity fire station immediately reached the spot and tried to plug the leak. But several of them suffered gas inhalation in the process," he said. A total of 19 affected persons were rushed to three different hospitals, he added.

But despite efforts, Dev Kantilal Pardiwal, a resident who was exposed to the strong fumes, died at a hospital, Bagde said.