KOCHI: The news of a gas leak and explosion at Hindustan Insecticides Ltd (HIL) plant in Eloor early on Wednesday sent jitters down the spine of Kochi residents since it comes on the heels of two other gas leaks in the city in a span of less than six months.
The mishap at HIL happened at around 10:30 am. A leak sprung while the truck carrying carbon di sulphide was transferring the chemical to a storage tanker at the plant.
At least 15 workers at the plant got injured and 12 were hospitalised. Two of them - Paul P Thomas, the man in charge of the transfer, and the truck driver Ganapathy sustained serious burns. Paul and Ganapathy have been admitted to Ernakulam Medical Centre and the other ten at KIMS Hospital in Edappally.
The doctors at KIMS said Ganapathy has sustained 75 per cent burns and his situation is critical. The other patients are being kept under observation since the extent of chemical burns cannot be ascertained immediately, the doctors added.
Anil M S, the unit head at HIL, said all the necessary security measures were taken while carrying out the transfer. “We don’t know how the accident occurred and there has been no oversight on the part of the personnel at the unit,” he added.
Ernakulam Assistant Commissioner Laljy K said Fire and Rescue personnel and officials at the plant have cordoned off the area and carried out damage control measures. He said the situation has been brought under control. Effort is on to transfer the chemical from the truck, the backside of which has been considerably damaged due to the fire.
The locals alleged that the accident shows the lackadaisical attitude of HIL officials in dealing with substances that are dangerous.
“The truck had been parked on the road outside HIL since Tuesday evening. Only today did we come to know that it carried highly inflammable substance. What if something had happened when the truck was parked on the road? HIL officials should have shown better sense and parked the vehicle inside their premises,” said Raju, who lives near the plant.