In a major fire on Wednesday at Arkema Peroxides India Pvt Ltd, a chemical factory situated in Cuddalore SIPCOT, barrels containing chemicals exploded, injuring 18 persons, including two firemen.
The impact of the explosion was felt as a tremor in 10 villages nearby. As hundreds of people from the villages gathered in front of the factory and proceeded towards the administration building, police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.
Fire broke out at the factory around 2.45 pm after a barrel of tertiary butyl hydro peroxide (TBHP) toppled, when the barrels were being shifted into a storehouse.
Totally, 40 tonnes of TBHP went up in fire and ravaged the enitre production unit. The airborne chemicals caused irritation in the eyes and throats of people in the area around the factory.
Seven fire tenders and 10 ambulances rushed to the spot and engaged in rescue operations. The 18 injured persons were taken to the Cuddalore Government Hospital for treatment.
“When I was at home, I felt the ground shake and the walls of my house vibrate. I ran out of the house in fear,” said G Ramasamy of Nochikadu village located close to the factory. Students at a school at Sonanchavadi village also fled their classrooms after they felt the tremor.
“Air samples have been taken by lab technicians of the pollution control board to check the pollution-level. We have made all arrangements to evacuate the people of surrounding area, if necessary. Two marriages halls are ready to accommodate people,” said Cuddalore sub-collector R Lalitha.
Meanwhile, the district administration instructed the people to dab their eyes with moist cloth to reduce the irritation caused by the chemicals.
Environment Minister M C Sampath and District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo arrived at the spot and inspected the fire-ravaged factory premises.
Ratnoo said, “16 workers of the factory sustained minor injuries and their condition is normal. A team of engineers headed by the joint commissioner of the environment department is coming here to test the pollution level in air.”
The news of the fire spread quickly, and people of the villages from Cuddalore Old Town to SIPCOT gathered along the road and watched the smoke emanating from the chemical factory.