Action begins with inquiries, damage control

Following the gas leak, the Union ministry of shipping has issued directives for the site to be surveyed by experts to plug the leak and also for other hazardous substances. Bhavika Jain & Sujit Mahamulkar report.

Following the gas leak, the Union ministry of shipping has issued directives for the site to be surveyed by experts to plug the leak and also for other hazardous substances.

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The ministry has also asked the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident.

"We have sought help from experts dealing with hazardous gases from Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd, Century Rayon and the National Disaster Response Force to prevent further leakage. They will also inspect the site for other such materials," said a source from the MbPT, requesting anonymity.

There are 105 cylinders with chlorine, of which five are full. The fire brigade department has started neutralising five chlorine cylinders that are full and thus at a greater risk of leakage.

"The fire brigade department is neutralising them in open spaces near the sea," S.S. Shinde, joint municipal commissioner, said. "Fire brigade officials had warned the MbPT to remove these cylinders more than once during surveys."

The fire brigade department and the BMC have no jurisdiction on the MBPT premises as it comes under the Central government.

Fire brigade officials also said a toner set, a kit that can arrest such leakages, usually kept at large storehouses, was not present at the site and had to be brought from the BMC's water treatment plant in Bhandup.