51 people have reportedly been poisoned after a train allegedly carrying ammonia derailed, spilling its cargo in southeastern Serbia.
Following the development, on Sunday, a state of emergency has been called in the affected part of the city of 60,000, and authorities have called for residents to remain inside their homes.
According to The Hindu, the mayor of the city of Pirot where the accident occurred, Vladan Vasic, said that the ammonia leak has caused “51 cases of poisoning.”
“Seven people were taken to (hospital) in Nis,” the nearest big city, he added.
The interior ministry in a statement said, the train reportedly derailed in the evening of Sunday, causing “the leakage and the dispersion of a large amount of gas into the atmosphere.”
Although, apart from the 51 cases of ammonia poisoning, the derailment did not result in any other casualties.
It was gathered that the 20-carriage train was transporting toxic materials from neighbouring Bulgaria.
