Chennai: 42 hospitalized after ammonia gas leak in Ennore
What's the story
A major ammonia gas leak late on Tuesday at the Coromandel International Limited industrial unit in Ennore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, led to 42 people being hospitalized.
The leak was detected in a sub-sea pipe, prompting Tamil Nadu Minister of Environment and Climate Change Mayyanathan Siva V to order the facility's closure until further notice.
On Wednesday, company officials confirmed that they had successfully isolated the ammonia system facility and restored normalcy.
Details
Coromandel assures normalcy in area
The incident took place late on Tuesday after which scores of locals ran onto the streets, complaining of irritation in their eyes and difficulty in breathing.
Officials reportedly said that pressure in the pipeline dropped at around 11:45pm, following which a pungent smell was observed.
In a statement released later, the company said, "Our standard operating procedure activated immediately, and we have isolated the ammonia system facility and brought the situation to normalcy in the shortest time."
What Next?
Locals reported breathing issues, uneasiness
Notably, locals from nearby areas, Chinnakuppam, Eranavur, and Nettukuppam, reported breathing difficulties and eye irritation due to the strong odor from the leak.
Officials confirmed that five people "in the immediate vicinity" of the industrial unit experienced uneasiness and were taken to a health facility, where they fully recovered.
Additional emergency medical services were deployed to provide necessary care.
Investigations into the cause of the leak are ongoing, with continuous monitoring to evaluate and address any remaining environmental hazards.
Twitter Post
Visuals show gas leaking from pipeline
கோரமண்டல் ஆலைக்கு கடல் வழியாக ரசாயனம் கொண்டு செல்லும் குழாயில் இருந்து வாயுக் கசிவு ஏற்பட்டதை மீனவர்கள் ஒளிப்பதிவு செய்துள்ளனர்.
— Satheesh lakshmanan 🖋சதீஷ் லெட்சுமணன் (@Saislakshmanan) December 26, 2023
இக்கசிவு கட்டுக்குள் வந்துள்ளதாக நிறுவனம் மீனவர்களிடம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.#EnnoreGasLeak pic.twitter.com/khMlMCV3yU
Quote
Fisherman describes impact of leak
"While returning from work at around 11:30pm, we noticed unusual bubbles in the sea. And when we came to the village, we couldn't breathe. I vomited twice. That is when we saw the whole village coming to the streets," Parthasarathy, a fisherman, told Deccan Herald.
Forest Department
Industry unit depressurized leaking pipeline
As a part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the leak, officials from Tamil Nadu's Environment and Forest Department were called at 12:45am on Wednesday.
Speaking to ANI, the department said that a company unit immediately visited the pipeline location and observed gas bubbles coming out of the pipeline at about 2' from the shore.
"The unit immediately started depressurizing the pipeline by diverting the ammonia vapor to the flare and completed the operation within 20 minutes," it said.
Ammonia
Ammonia gas can lead to blindness, lung damage
Ammonia is corrosive and its exposure can cause burning of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract.
If exposed to severe concentrations of the gas, it could result in blindness, lung damage, or death.
Experts say that at a concentration of 300 parts per million (ppm), the gas is immediately harmful to life or health.
Notably, Coromandel International Limited is a crop protection corporation and requires ammonia as a base material for fertilizers.
Twitter Post
Visuals: Residents panic amid Ammonia gas leak
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | Ammonia gas leak detected in a sub-sea pipe in Ennore. This was noticed and stopped. The production head says the leak caused a strong smell and five people felt uneasy and were shifted to a health facility. They are fine now: Officials pic.twitter.com/bhCE0vjWSF
— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2023