New Delhi  - At least 61 employees from a plant belonging to the South Korea's Samsung Group were admitted to a hospital near New Delhi following a suspected gas leak on its premises, officials said Wednesday.

The incident occurred at the multinational company's washing machine assembly unit in Delhi's suburb of Noida on Tuesday night.

According to the local police, workers reported breathing problems and a burning sensation in their eyes.

Some of the workers fainted which led to operations being halted and the affected employees being taken to a local hospital.

"A total of 61 employees were admitted to the hospital with headache, nausea and breathlessness. They were administered first-aid and most were discharged by Wednesday morning," S K Pratap, a local police officer, said in a telephone interview.

Twenty people were still ill and recovering at home, he added.

Company officials, however, denied there was a gas leak, saying no gas was used at the plant for any process.

Local authorities launched a probe into the incident.

"Senior industrial security officials are at the unit to determine what exactly happened. We are waiting for their report," Pratap said. (dpa)