A gas leak in a crucial Pakistani nuclear plant on Tuesday (8 April) has left two workers killed. The concerned authorities have said that no harm has come to the public as the situation was soon brought under control. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission said that this leak happened at 2.30 pm (local time) in the heavy water research reactor complex at Khushab in the Punjab province.

 

It is learnt that the two workers who lost their lives in the gas leak, did so while trying to bring the situation under control. The leak of the gas was brought under control by the plant's safety and fire protection division. This PAEC gas plant was reportedly going though a yearly maintenance and had been shut down at the time when the leak happened.

 

Since all the leaked gas got burnt in the flare system of the plant, there is no threat to public life said a statement issued after this incident. It further read that all important measures were adhered to in the protection of the gas plant from damage like evacuation of the personnel. A local Pakistan-based television channel reported that employees residing in an adjacent colony were swiftly taken to a safer place as a precautionary measure. An inquiry to find out the reason behind the gas leak has been put in place.