Gujarat: Chemical factory toxic gas leak in Bharuch district; 28 hospitalised

The incident occurred at P.I. Industries located in the vicinity of Sarod village, where a fire broke out, leading to the release of Bromine gas. As a result, 28 people had difficulty breathing and were promptly admitted to a nearby hospital said Gujarat’s Bharuch Resident Additional Collector NR Dhandhal. Further investigations into the incident are currently in progress, and additional details will be provided as they become available.

Around 2,000 workers were present in the factory at the time of the leak, which was reported around 1 pm. All workers were safely evacuated from the premises. “As many as 18 workers were hospitalised after inhaling bromine gas that leaked from a tank of a chemical factory located at Vedaj village,” stated sub-inspector Vaishali Ahir of Vedach police station as reported by PTI.

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Earlier, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) issued a directive to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to pay ₹50 lakh in compensation for environmental damage resulting from a crude oil spill from one of its pipelines in Bharuch district on May 26. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has raised concerns as it is alleged that 25 camels died after drinking water contaminated by the oil spill. ONGC, however, has denied any connection between the deaths of the camels and the oil leakage, reported ET.

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The contamination from the pipeline affected an agricultural field near Kachhipura village, leading to the GPCB ordering an investigation following reports of camel deaths. Margi Patel, the GPCB regional officer in Bharuch, stated, “We have directed ONGC to pay ₹50 lakh as environmental damage compensation to the state authorities.”

(With inputs from ANI)

Updated: 24 Aug 2023, 02:46 PM IST