Nagpur: Nearly 48 hours after the chlorine gas leak at the Godhani water treatment plant (WTP), large parts of the affected Sakar Nagar locality remained deserted, with locked homes and sparse movement on roads.While residents living around 100 metres from the plant have gradually started returning, the situation remains starkly different for families residing closest to the WTP, where the impact of the leak was most severe. During a visit to the site, TOI found most houses in this stretch still vacant on Tuesday, with residents citing health concerns and the hospitalisation of family members as the primary reasons for staying away, despite assurances from authorities.“The area opposite the treatment plant is still largely empty. Many families have not come back because some of their members were hospitalised after the leak,” said a resident.Signs of normalcy, however, were visible in areas farther from the plant. Several families who had temporarily shifted to relatives’ homes have started returning, and routine activities have resumed in some pockets.Sunil Bhat, who had moved to his brother’s house after the leak, said his family had returned. “Things are largely normal now. Many people have come back. Some police personnel are still on duty in the area,” he said.Police barricades remained at key access points to the water treatment plant, restricting movement around the facility.Some residents continue to express concerns over the lingering effects of the gas. Parimal Inamdar, a resident, claimed a chlorine-like smell could still be sensed inside some houses and said flowering plants in the locality had wilted and turned brown after exposure to the gas.Residents are seeking clear assurances on the safety measures taken at the plant before the remaining families return permanently.
