As many as six people lost their lives and 20 others were admitted to the civil hospital in an injured state early morning today after an incident of gas leakage at a company in Gujarat’s Surat, ANI reported on Thursday. Citing Omkar Chaudhary, the in-charge of the civil hospital, the report said the incident took place in the Sachin GIDC area of the city.

Hindustan Times reported that the local police are still carrying out relief and rescue operations in the area. A report carried by the publication indicated that the accidental gas leakage occurred when a tanker driver was pouring chemicals into a drain near the printing mill.

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By the time people in the vicinity came to realise what was happening, the poisonous gases had already whisked across through the open outlets and taken the lives of as many as five people in the moments after.

It was later reported that another person had also succumbed to internal injuries in the gas leakage incident.

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As soon as news broke out, the Surat Police rushed to the spot and ensured that the rest of the injured were taken to the civil hospital for urgent medical care.

Further details are awaited in the incident.