Toxic gas: Nine soldiers hospitalised

BY PRASAD Purnamal

NINE army personnel from a camp of the 11th Gajaba Regiment at Madampe, Chilaw, were hospitalised yesterday after inhaling a poisonous gas.

According to an Army spokesman, the incident occurred around 7.00 a.m. yesterday when a gas cylinder lying idle at the nearby Chilaw Pradeshiya Sabha premises leaked and started releasing a cloud of smoke.

Although steps were taken to cover the cylinder which was believed to contain the toxic gas the Army personnel who arrived at the Pradeshiya Sabha premises have inhaled it and experienced breathing difficulties.

They were immediately taken to the Madampe hospital and then transferred to the Chilaw Base hospital. The leaked gas cylinder is reported to have been in the Pradeshiya Sabha premises for the last 25 years.

It was removed on expert advice following yesterday's incident.