A tragic industrial accident killed three workers, including a father and son, at a tool manufacturing factory in Ludhiana, in a toxic gas leak as they were working in the factory following a blast and a factory explosion at RK Road in Ludhiana on Monday. The incident also left several workers unconscious and at least two workers in critical condition and under observation.
The gas leak caused panic in the factory premises, with workers scrambling for safety as toxic fumes spread rapidly through the facility. Emergency services, police and rescue teams rushed to the site after receiving information about the incident.
Initial reports said the factory workers were in the middle of production when gas from a pipeline or cylinder suddenly leaked out of a valve into the factory. The exact source of the leak has not yet been formally confirmed. And workers in the unit were apparently taken off guard when the fumes spread quickly across the premises, leaving them no time to escape.
The deceased are Manoj and his son Amit, who were working at the factory. Police are still trying to identify the third victim. Manoj and Amit were loading soil from the lower part of a machine into a trolley when they came into contact with the toxic gas, according to reports.
The sudden exposure proved deadly, and both men collapsed at the site. Other workers who inhaled the fumes also lost consciousness and were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Hospital sources said some of the workers are now fine, and a few are still in critical condition, but others are being monitored.
The incident created chaos in the surrounding area as rescue teams tried to evacuate workers and secure the factory premises. Residents and nearby businesses were also alerted as a precautionary measure while authorities assessed the situation.
#WATCH | Punjab: Three people died in a gas leak during waste disposal at a machine tool factory located in Industrial A Block near Cheema Chowk in Ludhiana.
— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2026
Ludhiana DCP Harpal Singh stated that three people have lost their lives in the accident. Two are admitted to the… pic.twitter.com/lOLZHXlYmH
Personnel from the Moti Nagar police station and other departments arrived at the factory and carried out relief and rescue operations. A part of the factory was cordoned off for the emergency response and to avoid exposure to the hazardous gas.
After the tragedy, the bodies of the deceased were sent for postmortem examination. A detailed investigation of the leak and whether the factory had complied with any necessary industrial safety policies has been initiated.
The equipment, maintenance records, and safety measures in place at the facility will be reviewed by officials. Negligence or non-compliance with safety standards will also be assessed in the accident, investigators say.
Moti Nagar Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Bhupinder Singh said the matter is under investigation. “We have gathered evidence and are questioning people based on the leak,” he said.
"This is an investigation, and further details will be provided as the inquiry progresses," said the officer.
So in this case, the concern over workplace safety in industrial units and the safety regulations that are necessary in the industry due to such catastrophic accidents is again highlighted. All of us need to ensure that the leak is properly investigated and there is a response in safety as soon as we know the cause of the leak.
