Police seek details from MPT on chlorine leak

The city police probing the chlorine gas leak at Mumbai Port Trust have sought "complete details" pertaining to the cylinders from the MPT authorities.

The city police probing the chlorine gas leak at Mumbai Port Trust have sought "complete details" pertaining to the cylinders from the MPT authorities.

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"We have written a letter to MPT authorities seeking various details like, since when the cylinders were stored, who imported them, why they were lying uncleared. We will get complete details soon," an official at Sewree Police Station told PTI on condition of anonymity.

However, the official said they were yet to question anyone in this connection or record anyone's statement.

"It is just 24 hours since the incident happened. Now our priority is to bring everything under control. The process to dispose of the four cylinders containing gas is going on," the official said.

Deputy Police Commissioner Khalid Kaisar on Wednesday said the Port Trust had been guarding the cylinders and as of now the police were not holding it responsible for the incident.

Over 100 people had fallen sick on Wednesday when they inhaled the chlorine gas which leaked from one of the imported cylinders lying in the MPT's Hay Bandar premises.

An FIR in the case was registered on Wednesday against unidentified persons under IPC sections 284 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

The unidentified accused were also charged with Environment Act, police said.