Perilous Times
59 ill, 3 dead after chlorine gas leak in Mumbai, 7 critical
TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES,
Jul 14, 2010, 08.49am IST
Chlorine gas leak in Mumbai, 3 dead
MUMBAI: About 60 people, mostly students, were taken ill after
suspected chlorine gas leaked from a scrapyard in the Mumbai Port Trust
(MPT) premises close to a college early on Wednesday. The condition of
seven people is critical, officials said, adding that 500 people were
evacuated from the area.
TV reports earlier said that three people have died in the leak.
However, there has not been any confirmation of the deaths.
"Seven are in a critical state, while the others have minor complaints
of health problems. There are no fatal casualties so far," Dean of Sir
J.J. Hospital T.P. Lahane told IANS.
According to an official of the fire brigade, the gas leak was noticed
around 4 a.m. when the victims started complaining of burning eyes,
breathlessness and nausea.
The source of the leakage was traced to a scrapyard in the MBT
premises, adjacent to the LBS College in Sewri, south-central Mumbai.
The official said in a preliminary measure to deal with the emergency,
water was sprayed on the gas cylinders stored in a container in the
scrapyard while experts were summoned to deal with the situation.
As a precautionary measure, police ordered the evacuation of nearly 500
people staying in the vicinity.
The condition of all the victims admitted to the Sir J. J. Hospital is
reported to be stable and 14 were discharged after treatment.
Officials of the MPT have said that the gas leak occurred from some old
gas cylinders, seized by customs authorities and in the process of
being disposed of.
The officials were engaged in procuring caustic soda to neutralise the
effects of the gas.
The state administration was monitoring the situation arising out of
the gas leak, especially as it happened in the high-security port zone
in south Mumbai.