Gas leak at Nagpur water plant exposes 40 to chlorine, area cordoned off

At least 56 individuals were admitted to hospitals following a chlorine gas leak at a water purification plant operated by Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran in Nagpur, India. Among the hospitalized, 11 were discharged after receiving treatment, while 45 patients, including eight in the Intensive Care Unit, remain under medical care. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026, in the Godhani gram panchayat area, when one of the two chlorine gas cylinders at the plant began leaking.

The gas leak prompted panic among nearby residents, who experienced coughing and difficulty breathing. Emergency services, including the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, the District Collector, the Directorate of Health Services, and the National Disaster Response Force, swiftly coordinated to manage the situation. Police evacuated residents within a 200-meter radius, and firefighters equipped with water tenders and breathing apparatus arrived on the scene.

Once the leak was contained, the National Disaster Response Force team submerged the leaking cylinder in water mixed with caustic soda to neutralize the chlorine. The hospital administration and the State health department conducted door-to-door checks in the affected area to ensure residents received necessary care. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Nagpur Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule ordered the District Collector to take immediate action to address the incident.