New Delhi, March 2 -- A major leak of hazardous oleum gas at a chemical facility in Palghar district, India, on Monday prompted authorities to evacuate more than 2,600 people, including about 1,600 school students, while three individuals reported minor eye irritation, officials said.

The release of oleum (fuming sulphuric acid) gas impacted areas within a five-kilometre radius of the plant in the Boisar MIDC area on the outskirts of Mumbai, leading to precautionary evacuations, they added.

The incident occurred around 2 pm at a unit operated by Bhageria Industries Ltd, producing a thick white cloud that spread quickly due to strong winds, triggering alarm among residents and workers in the industrial zone.

The reason behind the gas le...