103 fall sick due to chlorine gas leak, probe ordered

Mumbai, Jul 14 (PTI) At least 103 people fell sick when
they inhaled chlorine gas which leaked early Wednesday from
one of the imported cylinders lying in Bombay Port Trust's
(BPT) Hay Bandar premises for 13 years.
The condition of eight persons who are in JJ hospital
was said to be critical, police said.
The incident at Sewri area near some residential
buildings and a college in western Indian city Mumbai also
raised questions of negligence in disposal of the cylinders
and hazardous material.
The affected persons were taken to King Edward Memorial
hospital, JJ hospital and BPT hospital, police and fire
brigade officials said, adding they included college students,
BPT staff and firemen.
BPT, Police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation are
jointly conducting a probe into the incident while the
Ministry of Shipping has sought a detailed report from the
Port Trust authorities.
Some of the affected persons were discharged after
getting treatment.
Eight persons are in Critical Care Unit due to
respiratory problems, state-run J J Hospital Dean T P Lahane
told reporters.
"Due to intake of chlorine gas patients have developed
breathlessness and are facing burning sensation in eyes, on
face and hands", he said.
The fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot to plug
the leakage. Four fire officers took ill after inhaling the
gas and were taken to hospital for treatment.
The gas leakage was reported at 0315 hours from BPT
premises located near Lal Bahadur Shastri college of Maritime
and Research Studies, a fire brigade official said.
Rahul Asthana, chairman of the Mumbai Port Trust, said
some operators using the site import empty chlorine cylinders
and fill them for re-use.
"Some residual chlorine appears to have been left and
that leaked out into the atmosphere," he said.
"It's under control. We have put sodium hydroxide on
it."
According to an official press release, 136 cylinders,
including the one from which the gas escaped, had been lying
at BPT's Hay Bandar premises for the last several years. These
had been imported in 1997 but the importers did not take
delivery, it said.
"Bombay Port Trust is checking its records to find out
whether any action had been taken for disposal of the
hazardous material in the past," the release said. PTI VM
RBT