CUTTACK: AT least 46 persons, including medical students, attendants, cops and fire-fighting personnel were taken ill after they came in contact with chlorine gas which leaked from the pump house of Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) located on the premises of SCB Medical College and Hospital here on Wednesday.
Those who came in contact with the gas, including attendants, complained of burning and itching sensation in nostrils and eyes and also chest pain. Fire brigade personnel, who rushed to stop the gas leak, said at least three gas-filled cylinders were kept inside the pump house and the compressed gas leaked from one of the damaged cylinders. The damaged cylinder was immediately removed to a deserted place at the nearby river islet.
While a majority of those affected, including two fire-fighters, nine medical students, a security guard, a Group D worker and patients’ attendants were admitted to casualty ward, a few are undergoing treatment in Pulmonary Medicine Ward. Five of them have been shifted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Nebulizer has been provided to all the affected persons and their condition is stable, said SCBMCH Superintendent Shyama Kanungo. As per reports, three old cylinders were kept inside the pump house for purifying the pumped water. One cylinder, which reportedly got rusted, suddenly leaked at about 4 pm thereby spreading panic on the premises of the premier government-run hospital of the State.
The chlorine gas then started spreading and those who came in contact with it developed burning and itching sensation. Some cattle in the nearby locality were also affected by the leakage of chlorine gas. A team of Veterinary doctors rushed to SCBMCH to treat the bovines. The SCBMCH authorities immediately evacuated the medical students from the hostel located near the pump house.
Acting on information, fire-fighters, who rushed to the spot shifted the cylinder to an isolated place near Hadia Patha on Mahanadi river-bed after they failed to plug the leakage. About 25 affected persons have been discharged from the hospital after receiving primary treatment.About 21 affected persons are undergoing treatment and their condition is stated to be out of danger. Director General of Fire Services and Commandant General (home guards) Bijay Kumar Sharma said the nozzle of a 40 kg cylinder broke which led to the leakage of the gas. “The fire fighting personnel equipped with wearing apparels went to the spot and removed the damaged cylinder which was later disposed off at a secluded place,” he added.