Even after a day, the authorities concerned could not trace the root of “gas-like” smell that pervaded the atmosphere, sparking off rumours of a gas leak in and around Mangalore on Friday afternoon.

When contacted, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner N Prakash said though a team led by Mangalore Corporation Commissioner Ajith Hegde had collected air samples, the result has been negative. “By the time the officials collected the air samples,  the odour may have vanished,” he said.

Hegde said it must have been a result of leakage from a gas tanker which may have passed on the route.

Pollution Control Board officer Lakshman said the team could not trace the root of the gas leak though they tried their best.