Chlorine gas leak.
Credit: iStock Photo
Karwar, DHNS: A chemical leak at a caustic soda manufacturing unit of Grasim Industries in Karwar taluk left 19 workers ill on Saturday.
Company representatives attributed the leak to technical lapses. “Workers complained of burning eyes, laboured breathing, among other problems. While five of the workers were treated at the medical unit on the factory premises, we had to rush 14 others to the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences,” the representatives said.
Uttara Kannada’s in-charge District Health Officer Dr Captain Ramesh Rao said that none of the workers’ condition was serious. He said that leak of chlorine gas had triggered the illness.
Meanwhile, alleging lax safety standards at the factory, residents held a demonstration. MLA Satish Sail directed the management of the factory not to resume operations till the deputy commissioner inspected the factory, and deemed them safe.