27 taken ill due to 'increased emission' at steel plant in Kolkata

At least 27 workers were taken ill after "increased emission" of carbon monoxide and methane from a blast furnace of Durgapur Steel Plant this morning, a day after a chlorine gas leak in Bombay Port Trust landed over 100 people in hospital.

Out of the affected workers, 24 were admitted in Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) hospital where the condition of four was stated to be critical, chief of communications of DSP, B Kanungo said, adding they have been shifted to ICU.

Denying it to be a case of gas leak, Kanungo said the workers felt uncomfortable near the furnace due to "increased concentration of the gases".

Burdwan district magistrate, Onkar Singh Meena, too said there was no leakage inside the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)-owned plant.

The affected workers were immediately shifted from the place and taken to the hospital. The situation was under control, Meena said.

At least 120 people were taken ill yesterday when they inhaled chlorine gas which leaked from one of the imported cylinders lying on Bombay Port Trust's (BPT) Hay Bandar premises for 13 years.