People in the localities near the plant including Jawahar Market, Kathehra, Kancherra and Barari complained of breathlessness and irritation in the eyes as the gas leak allegedly occurred at around 5:30 AM.
Punjab Pollution Control Board executive engineer Joginder Singh said that leakage took place after the pipeline carrying chlorine got burst in the plant at the time of start of the process of the system. The authorities immediately shut down the plant which prevented any major harm.
However, plant's General Manager J S Talwar said there was no bursting of pipeline in the plant.