Nearly 12 people were hospitalized and more than 5,000 evacuated following chlorine gas leakage from a sewerage plant in Khoni village in Bhiwandi area on Thursday. However, in a major relief no casualties have been reported so far.

According to the health authorities, the condition of those who were hospitalized is stable.

It is learnt that a rusted cylinder containing chlorine was damaged in an explosion in the dumping ground of Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation on Thursday afternoon.

12 villagers complained of nausea and giddiness following the gas leakage from this cylinder.

These were admitted to a nearby hospital. All the other villagers were shifted by a team of fire brigade.

Meanwhile, military experts also arrived at the site on Friday to support the civil administration probing a chlorine gas leak.

The authorities feel that the rains diluted the gas which resulted in causing lesser damage than it could have otherwise.

Apart from this, the number of people affected by chlorine leak was less as the villagers themselves got the area evacuated on Thursday night.

Speaking with the media persons, Sudesh Punyarthi, chief of Bhiwandi Disaster Management department said: “While most of the chlorine gas is believed to have dissipated in the air, the army experts and our technical officials are trying to ascertain if there is any more left which could create problems.”