The gas leak happened in Giaspura area in Punjab’s Ludhiana district. The source of the leakage and the type of the gas are yet to be ascertained.

At least 11 people have died and 11 have been admitted to hospital after a gas leak in Ludhiana in the northern Indian state of Punjab, according to a top city official, who added that the entire area was being evacuated.

A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was at the site on Sunday, according to a video feed shared by the ANI news agency. Police were seen patrolling while wearing masks and asking locals to keep out of an area that had been cordoned off, the video showed.

Bhagwant Mann, Punjab’s chief minister, expressed sadness over the deadly leak.

“The incident of gas leak in the factory in Giaspura area of ​​Ludhiana is very sad,” Mann said in a tweet. “Police, government and NDRF teams are present at the spot. All possible help is being provided.”

Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik told reporters the deaths were a likely result of “gas contamination”.

“It is quite likely that maybe some chemical reacted with methane in manholes,” she was quoted as saying by ANI. “… All of this is being verified. NDRF is retrieving samples.”

Security and other Emergency Services personnel with an ambulance at the site after a gas leak incident in the Giaspura area, in Ludhiana district.