Kochi: An anhydrous ammonia leak from a barge on the Champakkara canal near Vytilla here on Friday resulted in hospitalisation of at least nine people and forced evacuation of over 50 families from the area. The barge carrying 290 tonne ammonia was proceeding from the Udyogamandal division of FACT to its Ambalamugal division and the leak was detected when it reached Thykoodam near Vytilla at 6.30 pm.
“Five persons were admitted to the Ernakulam General Hospital and four to the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital till 10 pm after they complained of breathlessness. We’ve evacuated over 50 families within two hours. Relocation of more people from the region is being done late into the night. The leak is detected in one of the six bullet chambers of the barge which was moved to a secluded place along the canal, away from the populated area. However, the leak is yet to be plugged,” said a Fire Force official.
The district disaster management wing has asked families living in two-km area to move out. Though experts from the ammonia handling division of FACT and fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot, the leak could not be plugged even after three hours as they could not approach the tanker.
A medical team from the General Hospital consisting of doctors and nurses reached at two spots in Thripunithura and Eroor to give primary treatment to those complaining of breathlessness, burning sensation and headache among others. “We’ve relocated families in and around Kunnara to the Nair Samajam Hall in Eroor,” said O V Salim, vice-chairman of Tripunithura municipality.
