Six persons lost their lives and at least 20 have been admitted in hospital after a chemical leaked in a printing mill in Sachin, Surat, in the wee hours of Thursday.
According to sources, the accident happened when the driver of a truck was pouring the chemical in a drain. It is believed that the chemical soon spread through sewers and other drains. Official confirmation on the cause of the accident is awaited.
Omkar Chaudhary—in-charge superintendent of the hospital where the victims were being treated—confirmed to a section of media that six persons died.
The toll is expected to rise.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has expressed grief over the incident.
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Junior Minister for Law and Justice Harsh Sanghavi, who hails from Surat, has also expressed grief.
Rescue and relief operations are on in the area.