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Four die in Gujarat fertiliser plant gas leak
A gas leak in a plant of fertiliser major Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (GNFC) killed at least four workers and injured 14 others in Bharuch district of Gujarat.
A gas leak in a plant of fertiliser major Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (GNFC) killed at least four workers and injured 14 others in Bharuch district of Gujarat.
The leak occurred in the factory’s toulene di-isocyanate (TDI) plant at Rahiad village, near Dahej.
Police officials said on Thursday that phosgene gas leaked from a pipeline in the plant late night on Wednesday, affecting over a dozen workers.
Four of them died due to inhalation while 14 others were admitted to a local hospital.
The cause of the leak is not clear yet. Inspector of factories V. J. Gandhi said officials were investigating the leak.
The same plant was served a closure notice by the Industrial Safety Department in January 2014 when a similar leak of phosgene gas in the TDI plant had left 15 people seriously ill.
Meanwhile, Congress’ Rajya Sabha member Ahmed Patel, who hails from the district, has demanded an impartial inquiry in the incident as well as proper compensation to the victims’ families.
He said proper medical care should be provided to the affected workers, who are fighting for life at the hospital.
According to Patel, the incident reflects the negligence of the authorities concerned.
