Gas leak near Mumbai kills four

A gas leak near Mumbai has killed four people and injured a further 11.

Late on Tuesday (September 21st) evening, Hydrogen Sulphide gas leaked into the Sequent Scientific facility at Tarapur, causing the deaths of one employee and three contract labourers.

"There was an accident at our Tarapur facility. The effects were contained last night but resulted in the sad demise of four workers and injuries to a few others," the company said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The cause of the leak has not yet been established but Sequent's managing director, Mr K R Ravishankar, told Business Line that an internal investigation is underway to find out if it was equipment failure or human error.

Spread of the gas has now been contained and five of the 11 workers hospitalised have been discharged, it was confirmed, but the remaining six, while still in hospital, are out of danger.

The company also confirmed that it will cover the cost of interim compensation for the families of the deceased, as well as the medial care of the workers who were injured in the gas leak.