About 2,600 people were evacuated after panic gripped residents of Palghar in Maharashtra following a massive leak of dangerous oil gas at a chemical unit in the district on Monday.
The impact of the gas leak was so severe that residents living within a three- to four-kilometre radius were suffering from symptoms such as eye irritation, coughing and difficulty breathing, ANI reported.
Officials later said there was no possibility of a life threat and explained that the concerned authorities had covered approximately 90 to 95 percent of the leak at the scene.
They added that the oleum (fuming sulfuric acid) gas leak affected areas within a five-kilometre radius of the unit in the Boisar MIDC area on the outskirts of Mumbai and led to the evacuation as a precautionary measure.
What happened in Palghar?
The leak, which occurred around 2 pm at the Bhagiria Industries Limited unit, created a thick cloud of white fumes that spread rapidly due to wind speed, causing panic among residents and workers in the industrial belt. The cause of the gas leak was not immediately known.
Palghar District Collector Dr Indu Rani Jakhar said the disaster management plan was activated immediately. The administration stated in a press statement, “The leak occurred from an oil tank with a capacity of 2,500 liters. Due to the direction of the wind, the smoke spread to the surrounding areas, affecting a radius of about 5 kilometers.”
Indo appealed to people to stay at home and follow the instructions given by the administration. The complex stressed that “the situation is subject to continuous monitoring in coordination with all concerned departments. Citizens should not believe rumours.”
What safety measures are taken?
As a precautionary measure, authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of 1,600 students from the Tarapur Vidyamandir local school. In addition, more than 1,000 workers from Bhageria Industries and neighboring companies were rushed to safety.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) and the fire brigade initially faced hurdles in reaching the unit where the gas leak occurred. The official statement noted, “Due to the high concentration of smoke in the affected areas, response teams faced difficulties in reaching the exact location of the leak.”
Eventually, chemical experts and NDRF personnel identified the source and entered the building using a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). In order to suppress the fumes, responders spread sandbags around the leaking tank.
Officials said that at least three people suffered minor eye irritation and were receiving medical treatment in hospitals. District police inspector Yatish Deshmukh, who was at the leak site, asked the villagers not to panic as the authorities are taking all possible measures to deal with the situation.
The leak was life-threatening
SP Palghar explained that the authorities concerned covered approximately 90 to 95 per cent of the spill at the site. “There is nothing like a life-threatening (situation) at the leak site at the moment. We have also covered almost 90 to 95 per cent of the leak at the site,” SP Deshmukh told news agency ANI.
What is oleum?
The oil is a grayish cloudy liquid with a sharp odor. It is highly corrosive and causes severe skin burns, eye damage, and severe lung damage if inhaled. It is used in the production of sulfuric acid, explosives, fertilizers, detergents and oil refining. Unlike concentrated sulfuric acid, it is highly volatile, releasing sulfur trioxide gas.
