At least 52 people were hospitalised after an ammonia gas leak occurred late on Tuesday night in a fertiliser plant in Chennai's Ennore area. An oil spill earlier this month had already wreaked havoc on this area. The gas leak originated from a pipeline that runs from the sea to the factory of a private fertiliser company. The Tamil Nadu pollution control board reported that the level of ammonia in the air was significantly higher than accepted levels, and the level in the sea was also above the standard. The National Green Tribunal has taken cognizance of the leak and directed the TNPCB to file a report.
Authorities were alerted about a gas leak
At 11:45 p.m. on December 26, a gas leak happened at Coromandel International Limited's fertiliser manufacturing facility. When gas bubbles were observed emerging from the pipeline close to the coast at 12:45 a.m., authorities were notified. The company immediately started depressurizing the pipeline, and it was complete in 20 minutes. A few patients needed first aid since they were having breathing problems and eye irritation. A number of families evacuated their residences in order to avoid the detrimental consequences of the gas leak.
Protests and concerns
On Wednesday, locals protested, demanding the closure of the factory. People complained of burning in their eyes, throat, nose, and chest. Some fainted and experienced breathlessness. The president of the Kattukuppam Fishermen's Cooperative reported seeing several dead fish. The factory manufactures 400,000 metric tonnes of ammonium phosphate potash sulphate annually, and ammonia is one of the raw materials used for manufacturing. The company stated that they noticed an abnormality in the ammonia unloading pipeline and immediately activated their standard operating procedure to isolate the ammonia system facility.
The ammonia gas leak in Chennai's Ennore area has caused significant concern and led to the hospitalisation of 52 people. This incident comes shortly after an oil spill in the same area, further devastating the community. Locals have protested and demanded the closure of the factory, expressing concerns about their safety and the impact on their livelihoods. The company responsible for the leak has stated that they followed safety protocols and have informed relevant authorities. The National Green Tribunal has taken notice of the incident and will be hearing the case in January.
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