A routine night shift for the workers of a manufacturing unit turned deadly when a toxic gas leaked there on the intervening night of Sunday-Monday, claiming the lives of three of them, including a father and son and leaving several others hospitalized.

The mishap occurred at the Deep Tools Factory on RK Road, where workers had been engaged in maintenance and production-related tasks. As the poisonous fumes suddenly spread through the premises, panic and chaos ensued at the facility.

Identities of the victims

As per police, the ones who died have been identified as Mann Singh (46), his son Amit (26) and another factory employee, Sri Ram. The father-son duo were clearing and transporting waste material from the lower section of a machine when they were exposed to the toxic fumes.

According to preliminary findings, the victims were working near a sewer line that had become clogged. Mann and Amit had allegedly been hired to clear the blockage, while Sri Ram and other factory employees were assisting them at the site.

The investigating police personnel believe the workers entered the sewer area without mandatory safety equipment or protective gear, leaving them vulnerable to a dangerous build-up of toxic gases.

Fumes engulf work area rapidly

Eyewitnesses said that factory operations had been proceeding normally before the gas began leaking, possibly from a pipeline, cylinder or an underground sewage chamber. The fumes quickly engulfed the work area, with little room for the workers to escape.

After being exposed to the gas, several workers collapsed instantly. While three people died on the spot itself, four others were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Two workers were initially in a critical state, but officials later confirmed that their health had stabilised.

In the aftermath of the incident, the emergency response team plunged into action immediately. Teams from the Moti Nagar police station, rescue personnel and local administrative officials rushed to the unit and set the relief operations in motion.

Probe underway into suspected negligence

The bodies of the victims were sent for autopsy, while forensic and police teams began collecting evidence from the site. Moti Nagar police station house officer (SHO) Bhupinder Singh said a probe is underway and further details will emerge as the inquiry progresses. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the factory owner and management on charges of criminal negligence resulting in death.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rural), Jaskiranjit Singh Teja informed that initial findings indicate lapses in safety procedures. The authorities are examining whether mandatory industrial safety protocols were ignored and whether adequate protective equipment was provided to workers before they were told to enter the hazardous area.