More than 50 residents of Pawne village located on the Thane-Belapur Road were affected after noxious gas which escaped from the premises of Star Chemicals Ltd combined with the rainwater early on Friday. Over 20 residents of the village were admitted to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Hospital, Vashi and 15 others were discharged after being administered first aid. Those affected complained of burning in the eyes. The Star Chemicals unit has been closed since August 27, 1998 following a gas leakage when over 200 workers were affected.

Boy falls off school bldg

A schoolboy t was severely injured after falling down from the second floor of his school building. According to the VP Road Police, Std IX student Hitesh Madhusudhan Dave of St Teresa School Girgaum fell from the school building at 12.15 am. Dave was rushed to the nearby Harkisondas Hospital and is said to be out of danger. It is not yet known if the boy attempted to commit suicide. Dave'sparents told the police that they had no complaints against anybody. According to sources Dave a resident of Sindhi gully VP Road had complained that he was not getting proper sleep since the past two days.No further details were available.