20 workers fall unconscious following gas leak at meat plant

At least 20 workers, 16 of them women, fainted following an ammonia gas leak at a meat packaging plant here, police said today.
Around 50 workers were working at the meat packaging plant, situated on Meerut-Hapud road, when the incident took place last night, they said.
The workers, who fell unconscious, have been admitted to a hospital and the condition of four is stated to be critical.
Witnesses say the ammonia gas leaked from the freezing chamber of the plant following which the 20 workers fainted. The rest of the workers managed to escape, police said.
District Magistrate Pankaj Yadav, who visited the spot, has ordered an inquiry in this connection and has asked SDM Ravish Gupta to immediately submit a report on the matter.

Yadav has also asked a report from UP pollution control board to check whether the plant followed all norms.
Police have registered a case against the factory's owner Nagma under Section 284 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance) and Section 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) of the IPC.
The cause of the leak is yet to be ascertained, police said.