Gas leak in Andhra factory, 121 women workers seriously ill

International Desk: 121 workers of the factory fell seriously ill and were admitted to hospital due to the release of toxic gas through a hole in the gas pipe in a garment factory in Anakapalle district of the southeastern state of Andhra, India. Several Indian media including NDTV reported that the incident took place in a factory in Brandix Special Economic Zone of Annakapalla on Wednesday. PTI, India's largest news agency, reported that workers at the factory fell ill shortly after the start of their shift on Wednesday morning. At first they started vomiting, then passed out. They were given first aid inside the economic zone, but as their condition did not improve, they were admitted to various local hospitals. Andhra State Government's Commerce Minister Gurivada Amarnath expressed his displeasure over the incident in a tweet and said, "There have been two gas leaks in the state in the last two months." The police and the Pollution Control Board are conducting a detailed investigation to find out the exact cause of the gas leak. The concerned textile company will be closed until the investigation is over.