Toxic gas leaks from Palghar chemical unit; 2,500 evacuated, some complain of eye irritation

Palghar: More than 2,500 people were evacuated to safer locations following a leak of hazardous oleum gas in an industrial unit in the Boisar area of Palghar district, Maharashtra, around 120 kms from downtown Mumbai, on Monday.

Some people complained of eye irritation.

The oleum (fuming sulphuric acid) gas leak affected areas within a five-kilometre radius of the unit in the Boisar Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) locality.

Palghar district administrative and police officials said the incident took place at 2pm.

Palghar district Collector Dr Indurani Jakhar and Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh are personally overseeing the developing situation arising from the gas leak.

The leak, which occurred around 2 pm at the unit of Bhageria Industries Ltd, created a dense cloud of white fumes that spread rapidly due to wind velocity, causing panic among residents and workers in the industrial belt.

The cause of the gas leak was not immediately known.

A probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the gas leak.

As a precautionary measure, the district administration ordered the immediate evacuation of 1,600 students from Tarapur Vidyamandir. Additionally, more than 1,000 workers from Bhageria Industries and neighbouring firms were moved to safety.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) were involved in the operations.

“There is nothing like a life-threatening situation at the leakage spot right now. Also, we have covered almost 90 to 95 per cent of the spillage at the spot,” police officials said.