A leakage of chlorine gas on Monday in Godhni area triggered a scare as hundreds of citizens in nearby residential colonies were affected. The leakage was traced to a 900 kg stand alone chlorine cylinder at 6 MLD water treatment plant in Godhni village, adjoining the city. The residents in Faguji Layout were sound asleep when the gas started oozing from the cylinder, the time was just after 1 am. The treatment plant is surrounded by dense residential area and citizens woke-up with irritation in their eyes. Within moments, the entire area was engulfed by the strong smell and the citizens were experiencing trouble while breathing due to the chlorine gas. Very soon, the staff at the plant relayed SoS for help. The District Disaster Management Authority was mobilised and Fire and Emergency Services of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) was mobilised and their team rushed to the spot.

 

The Fire Brigade personnel handled the leaking cylinder and plugged the leakage. However by that time damage was done. Some of the local volunteers were the first to respond to emergency post learning about the gas leakage. They later said that some of the stray dogs in the locality were the only casualty. The treatment plant is run by Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikarn and ownership rests with Godhni Nagar Parishad. After reaching the spot, the fire brigade personnel along with local cops, the staff from Mankapur police station asked the citizens in the nearby localities to move out of the area as a matter of precaution.

 

Fire Brigade teams from Sugat Nagar, Civil Lines and Kalamna Fire Brigade station was activated and they worked with officials of Orange City Water (OCW) to plug the leakage. OCW Aid: The aid by OCW come in handy as they had the required expertise to handle the chlorine leakage, as the Fire Brigade team lacked the required training for the same. Sagar Yadav, Head Manager, OCW, and his team played crucial role in timely plugging the leakage. OCW said they got message from Mankapur police station and DISH officials to tackle the chlorine gas leakage. OCW communiqué said their two experienced operators, equipped with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), entered the affected area alongside NDRF personnel and helped identify the source of the leak. The team arranged caustic soda (NaOH) from the Gorewada WTP to establish a neutralisation tank. The leaking toner was submerged in the tank that helped to successfully stop the chlorine release. By around 4 am the situation was brought under control, and necessary precautionary measures were taken to minimise further risk. A team from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was also deployed in the area. The District Health authority later deployed Asha workers to visit the residential area and check on the citizens to provide any help required by them.

 

 

Mankapur police have launched a probe into the incident. At the same time, District Collector Kumar Ashirwad has announced that a committee will be formed to investigate the matter, to determine what caused the leak and if there is dereliction of duty at any stage. Senior Police Inspector Harish Kalsekar of Mankapur police station said the committee’s report would also be taken on record. Several expert agencies visited the spot on Monday to investigate the gas leak. Their reports will also be considered. “After examining all the reports, we will decide the further course of action,” Kalsekar said. The police are currently investigating how the gas leaked and whether any other factors were involved in the incident.

 

 

 

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is going to take the chlorine gas leak at a water treatment plant in Godhani seriously as the Board is planning to check the mandatory safety norms of the plant soon. As a key environmental and safety regulatory authority, MPCB is planning to check the safety norms in all such chlorine plants in the state in near future. While talking with ‘The Hitavada’, a senior official of MPCB informed that this incident is new for the Board and the regional office is going to explore their jurisdiction in such incidents. The regional office of MPCB send a report to its headoffice in Mumbai and as per the directives from the main office, the Board will take action against the Maharashtra Jivan Pradhikaran (MJP) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). After the incident, several people were hospitalised after the leakage occurred in a 900 kg capacity chlorine gas cylinder at the water treatment plant. Regional team is also likely to visit the accident site soon and to check if the facility maintained mandatory safety infrastructure, such as operational chlorine detection alarm systems, suction hoods, and caustic soda neutralisation tanks. If the Board found irregularities in the mitigation measures then it will issue notices to the responsible operating agencies for lapses in hazardous chemical handling.

 

 

 

About 56 residents in the nearby localities were affected due to chlorine leakage, said the authorities. The people complained of dizziness and irritation in throat and eyes. The authorities provided them first aid treatment. The authorities said the residents who complained of uneasiness were shifted to hospital for treatment. Of them 11 were discharged after first aid while 45 are still undergoing treatment. Further 8 citizens were admitted in ICU as their condition was listed as serious. Earlier due to chlorine leakage the building housing water treatment plant was engulfed with thick smoke, with one barely able to distinguish anything due to haze. Only when the leaking cylinder was submerged into an alternate tank that the leak stopped. District Collector Kumar Ashirwad visited the WTP site and was briefed by the officials about the incident. He briefed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule about the incident and steps taken by the administration. The two leaders took stock of the situation and issued instructions on follow-up action.