Surat: As many as 28 people from Pandesara area were taken to the New Civil Hospital (NCH) Thursday night after they complained of breathlessness. Asthmatic people complained that they suffered an attack after breathing a pungent smelling gas in their vicinity.The people affected due to the unknown gas belong to Shanti Nikatan Society, Laxminagar, Bhakti Nagar, Tripathi Nagar, Tirupati Nagar, Jai Krishna Nagar, Balaji Nagar, Jay Ambe Society and nearby areas of Pandesara.The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has initiated a probe to locate the source of pungent smell in the area. Pandesara industrial belt mainly consists of textile and chemical units.Associate professor, department of chest and tuberculosis, NCH, Dr Parul Vadgama said, “Some of the patients were already suffering from asthma, blood pressure and other ailments. The patients suffered breathlessness due to the pollutants released in air, which could also have triggered the asthmatic attack in some.”“Generally, it is suspended particulate matter that causes such problems. The patients stabilize once they are treated with nebulizer,” one of the doctors at NCH saod. “However, patients with chronic illness suffer more due to presence of excess of carbon and nitrogen content,” he added.Vadgama said three persons were admitted and kept under observation overnight and discharged on Friday. While others were discharged after primary treatment on Thursday night itself.GPCB vigilance officer Anil Patel said, “We are checking the source of the smell that the patients have complained of.”People have also complained of pungent smell, especially during evening and night hours.

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