Women and children are among those who died in the port city of Ludhiana, following a gas leak in northern India.
Several people – at least 11, were found unconscious in their homes.
The leak happened in an industrial area in the city of Ludhiana, Punjab state on Sunday, April 30.
Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina, a member of the legislative assembly in Ludhiana, said at least nine people had also been taken to hospital.
She added that a team from the National Disaster Response Force has been sent to the site along with a team of experts to determine the cause and source of the leak.
The densely populated area has been sealed off and residents have been evacuated.
The source of the leak has not been officially confirmed so far.
‘The incident happened near a milk shop and a doctor’s clinic although we cannot say for sure where the leak began,’ Ms Chhina told Reuters.
‘We are going to collect samples from manholes. It is quite likely that some chemical reacted with methane in manholes,’ she said.
The state’s chief minister, Bhagwant Mann, said the leak came from a factory, tweeting: ‘All possible help is being provided.’
