Surat: Eleven people, including five children, were admitted to New Civil Hospital (NCH) late on Tuesday evening after reporting symptoms such as suffocation, burning eyes, and throat irritation. The exact cause of the symptoms is unclear, but a preliminary police investigation suggests that a scrap vendor attempting to open a gas cylinder may be involved. The vendor opened the knob to release pressure but quickly closed it as he also experienced a burning sensation in his eyes.

Ten of them reside in huts behind Rahul Raj Mall in the Vesu area, while one pedestrian walking on the road fell due to the impact of the gas. Victims started experiencing health issues around 10:45 pm on Tuesday and were taken to NCH. The patients were stabilized and declared normal in the hospital. The children’s condition is normal, but they are under medical observation in the ICU.

The Surat Fire and Emergency Services (SFES), Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) joined the police in the investigation. During the inquiry, police identified a scrap dealer in nearby huts, and from him, they recovered a cylinder. The dealer admitted to opening the valve briefly and feeling a burning sensation in his eyes.

The scrap dealer reported yellow fumes coming out of the cylinder, causing his eyes to burn. Although the released gas is suspected to have affected the victims, the investigating agencies suspect it might be chlorine gas based on its color. The police officer mentioned that the scrap dealer confessed to opening the cylinder valve, and further actions will be taken after testing reports.

The GPCB officer suggested that the investigation is ongoing to determine the gas in the cylinder, considering the possibility of a leftover liquid chemical discarded without following guidelines. Both SFES and GPCB teams found no suspicious sources of a gas leak during their visits to the scene. DeshGujarat