11 dead after gas leak in Punjab's Ludhiana: Police
Ludhiana (Punjab) (PTI): Eleven people were killed after a gas leak incident in the Giaspura area in this Punjab district on Sunday, police said.
Four more people, who were taken ill, are undergoing treatment at a hospital, they added.
The source of the leakage and the type of the gas are yet to be ascertained, police said, adding that the area has been sealed while a fire brigade and an ambulance have been deployed there.
A 50-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also reached the site.
Police said the casualties comprise five females and six males. Two boys aged 10 and 13 are among the 11 who died in the incident, they said.
An NDRF official said it was yet to be found which gas caused the deaths. "We will check it first then we will let you know," the official said in a response to a query.
A district administration official said a team of the NDRF, which has reached here, will ascertain the source and the type of gas.
As it was a thickly-populated area, the immediate priority was to evacuate people from the place, the official further said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the incident was very painful and added that all possible help is being provided.
"The incident of gas leak in Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very painful. Teams of police, district administration and NDRF are present on the spot. Every possible help is being provided..," Mann said in a tweet in Punjabi.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengal: Hours after killing of Suvendu's aide, cops say 5 BJP workers injured in bomb attack
Kolkata (PTI): Five BJP supporters have been injured allegedly in a bomb blast in Panihati in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred late on Wednesday night, hours after Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants, which led to the saffron camp accusing the TMC of unleashing retaliatory violence.
The bomb blast occurred near St Xavier's Institution in Panihati. Unidentified assailants hurled crude bombs at a group of BJP workers, injuring at least five people, police said, adding the injured were admitted to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
According to local sources, BJP workers were interacting with residents on Dutta Road in Panihati's Ward number 2 when a group of motorcycle-borne persons allegedly targeted them with bombs before fleeing.
The BJP alleged that the attackers were backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress, an allegation denied by the Mamata Banerjee-led party.
A senior police official said, "We have started an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to identify those involved. Raids are being conducted to nab the accused."
A heavy police deployment has been made in the area.
"We are maintaining strict vigil and appealing to people not to spread rumours. Necessary steps are being taken to maintain peace," the officer added.
Incidentally, the area where the blast occurred is located near the residence of newly elected BJP MLA Ratna Debnath, the mother of the RG Kar Hospital rape victim.
