Gas leak prompts downtown evacuations

A natural gas leak Monday morning in downtown Indianapolis near the Central Library  led to about 20 people being evacuated from an apartment building and some street closures.

The leak was reported about 2 a.m. Monday. The section of Pennsylvania Street directly east of the library and north of St. Clair Street was still closed to traffic at 9 a.m.

Fire Capt. Rita Burris says utility crews were working to shut off the gas, which was coming from a plastic line that's inside an old cast-iron pipe buried under the street. She says firefighters were at the site as a precaution.

Burris says the apartment building residents were offered shelter in a nearby building.

Utility officials originally said it might be midmorning before repairs could be completed. A spokesperson for Citizens Energy Group was not immediately available early afternoon for an update.