Gas leak at the fertilizers major Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals (GNFC)'s Toluene Di-Isocyanate - TDI unit at Dahej left four workers dead and six other affected due to the leak on Wednesday night.

The state-run company has ordered an internal inquiry for the causes of the incident and announced ex -gratia payment of Rs 8 lakh to the kin of those deceased.

"Due to mechanical fault in the heat exchanger of the company's TDI plant at Dahej, there was a gas leakage, which affected a few workers. They were provided immediate medical treatment at the site, and were subsequently rushed to Bharuch for further treatment. However, four of the affected workers died while under treatment. The six other affected workers are being provided adequate medical treatment and their condition is not serious," the company said in a statement.

Initial reports hinted that the leaked gas was phosgene gas. The company has formed a committee under senior technical officials and representatives from the Director of Industrial Safety and Health to look into the reasons of the accident.

Meanwhile, the plant has been put on complete shut down. "Only after the complete safety audit of the plant, the TDI plant will resume its operations," the company informed.

After the reports of the incident, GNFC shares tumbled on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) losing by over 20 per cent to hit a low of Rs 215 before recovering to close at Rs 221.55 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ahmed Patel expressed concerns about the incident and demanded an inquiry and assistance to the affected from the government. "Saddened by the loss of lives due to gas-leak in GNFC Bharuch. Govt must constitute an inquiry into this and provide assistance to the affected," Patel wrote on the micro blogging site Twitter.

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