Toxic industrial gas killed 11 people in just 15 mins | Ludhiana Gas Tragedy 2023

30th April 2023 | Ludhiana’s Giaspura, Punjab. 11 people dropped dead in just 15 mins! Authorities suspect that gas leaked from open sewers after high levels of toxic gas was detected in this area, surrounded by industries. But when Down To Earth’s team reached Ludhiana, we realized this incident was just a wake-up call. The real issue is much bigger and affects communities at large

So, there are 2 theories of what must have happened. One is that the industries could have dumped some chemicals into the domestic sewer line that then mixed with H2S to form a toxic gas. The other theory is that the sewers were not cleaned or not cleaned properly. But the problem that we see is not restricted to Giaspura alone. This is related to how the city manages its water, waste and industrial pollution.

Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.