CHENNAI: At least nine people were rushed to hospital and 230 others were evacuated after a gas leak from a fertiliser manufacturing facility, involved in the manufacture of Ammonium Phosphate Potash Sulphate (APPS), in Tamil Nadu’s Ennore on Tuesday night.
The unit of M/s Coromandel International Ltd in Ennore makes approximately four tonnes of APPS a year. A pressure drop in the pipeline at around 11.45pm led to a pungent odour around the storage terminal and near the material gate. Gas bubbles were noticed in the pipeline located across the road. The unit immediately started depressurising the pipeline by diverting the ammonia vapour to the flare and completed the operation within 20 minutes, environment secretary Supriya Sahu said.
Within minutes, people in the surrounding areas of Ennore complained of vomiting and nausea. Sixteen ambulances were deployed by the Emergency Management Research Institute. Six people were shifted to Stanley Medical College Hospital and three others were shifted to a private hospital. The condition of all patients is stable, doctors said. At least 230 others were moved to a community hall.
Complaints of odour were received from Periakuppam, Chinnakuppam and a few other villages.
The unit of M/s Coromandel International Ltd in Ennore makes approximately four tonnes of APPS a year. A pressure drop in the pipeline at around 11.45pm led to a pungent odour around the storage terminal and near the material gate. Gas bubbles were noticed in the pipeline located across the road. The unit immediately started depressurising the pipeline by diverting the ammonia vapour to the flare and completed the operation within 20 minutes, environment secretary Supriya Sahu said.
Within minutes, people in the surrounding areas of Ennore complained of vomiting and nausea. Sixteen ambulances were deployed by the Emergency Management Research Institute. Six people were shifted to Stanley Medical College Hospital and three others were shifted to a private hospital. The condition of all patients is stable, doctors said. At least 230 others were moved to a community hall.
Complaints of odour were received from Periakuppam, Chinnakuppam and a few other villages.