80 affected due to poisonous gas leakage in Pakistan's Karachi

a man affected by gas leakage

ISLAMABAD, March 6 (Xinhua) -- At least 80 people were affected after inhaling poisonous gas leaked from a chemical factory in Port Qasim of Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Friday, police said.

The leakage happened in a factory of Engro Corporation due to breakage of a pipe in the factory, affecting the people working in the vicinity, Senior Superintendent Police of the area Muhammad Ali Raza said, adding that all people have been evacuated from the area.

The affected people have been shifted to the Jinnah Hospital Karachi where one of them is said to be in critical condition, while others were discharged after treatment.

The medical superintendent of the hospital said that most of the people were suffering from nausea and vomiting when shifted to the hospital.

A statement by Engro confirmed that the leakage happened when chlorine gas was released through vents, and the investigation of the incident is being made.