In the past seven months this is the fourth gas leak in the metropolitan region, which has thrown light on the casual attitude of authorities regarding gas leak incidents.
More than 12 hours after a gas leak led to a scare in many parts of central Mumbai on Saturday morning around 8.30am, fire and civic authorities are still looking for the source of the gas leak which left many complaining of itchy eyes, coughing and nausea.
While admitting that the symptoms pointed strongly to the possibility that the leaked gas was ammonia, none of the authorities were willing to go on record saying so.
In the past seven months this is the fourth gas leak in the metropolitan region, which has thrown light on the casual attitude of authorities regarding gas leak incidents. In July 2010, there was a chlorine leak at Haji Bunder in Sewri which sent 123 people to the hospital. In the same month, a chlorine gas leak occurred in Bhivandi.
On Saturday morning, people residing in Matunga, Dadar and Mahim complained of a burning sensation in the eyes as well as sore throats. A fire brigade rushed to the spot to find the source of gas leak, but failed.
Authorities suspected it to be an ammonia gas leak. However, since none of the affected areas have industries in their vicinity, the source of the leak proved to be a puzzle. Fire officials even contacted Rashtriya Chemical and Fertilizers (RCF) in Chembur and other chemical units in the surrounding area to trace the leak but were unsuccessful.
Since the BMC’s disaster control room received the gas leak call, DP Jain and SY Kurhade, assistant commissioners of G-North (Dadar-Mahim) and F-north (Matunga) wards respectively, also rushed to the affected areas along with their teams to find the source of the leak.
“Ambulances were sent to the spot to help but since the intensity of the smell was very low, no casualties were reported. We then proceeded to look for the source, checking each and every possible area,” said Kurhade.
“It might have been a leak from a tanker passing through the area. Residual gas may have leaked from the tanker and spread in the vicinity,” ventured chief fire officer Uday Tatkare. He also informed the traffic police to find out whether such a vehicle had passed through the area.
Dhiraj Bhatnagar, student of the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) said, “At around 8.30, I reached my hostel canteen and experienced burning in my eyes and an itchy throat. I also realised the smell might be ammonia. But it was not that strong, so I ignored it.”
Residents in Mahim and Matunga also complained of similar symptoms.
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