Nangal admn says no proof indicating gas leak, residents contest claim

The Nangal administration on Friday said there was no evidence suggesting gas leak from chemical plants in the area last night, a version contested by local villagers who accused officials of protecting companies.

Panic had spread in several villages along the Himachal Pradesh border here following suspected gas leak from one of the units, with residents complaining of thick clouds of gas and pungent smell.

National Fertilizers Limited and Primo Chemicals are the two companies having units in the area.

“As of now, there is no evidence of leakage from any of the plants. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) is still examining the situation,” said SDM Sachin Pathak who inspected both plants last night along with a PPCB team.

“All six ammonia sensors at NFL were checked and none showed any leakage. Similarly, Primo Chemicals’ chlorine sensors registered no spikes,” he told The Tribune.

Meanwhile, sources in the administration suggest that investigators were now exploring a third possibility that the incident could be the result of the leak from chemical-laden tankers that pass through the area.

Both NFL and Primo Chemicals regularly transport chemicals like ammonia and chlorine in large containers.

A minor valve failure or unnoticed seepage could have released enough fumes to affect the nearby villages. “A leak from a tanker in transit could cause temporary symptoms like those reported,” a senior official said.

However, local residents contested the official version.

“If there was no leak, then why did people fall sick,” asked Ranjit Singh, a resident of Malookpur village.

“This has become a pattern. Every time people suffer, officials protect the companies. No one is ever held responsible,” he alleged.

Another resident, Gurmukh Singh, said, “I was walking through the village when my eyes started burning. I could hardly breathe. I ran back home shouting that there was a gas leak. We warned everyone and announcements were made from the gurdwara to stay inside. The smell lasted for about an hour.”

‘Reminder of past incident’

Many recalled a 2024 incident when several students of Saint Soldier School in Nangal fainted after inhaling toxic fumes. The case made headlines, but no punitive action followed. “It’s as if Pinto died and nobody was held responsible,” said Vijay Sharma, quoting a local proverb for futile accountability.