VASCO
An ammonia gas leakage from a cylinder at an ice factory and cold storage unit late Thursday evening caused panic in Chicalim and while there were no casualties reported, residents in the area were evacuated and asked to move to a safer location.
According to reports, residents in the area got the smell of toxic fumes and alerted the Vasco Police and Fire Services.
Teams from Vasco police and fire services rushed to the site and the leakage was contained.
Chicalim Sarpanch Seby Pereira also went to the site and residents of buildings near the ice factory were evacuated and requested to shift to a different locations.
Speaking to reporters at the site, Pereira said people had panicked following the ammonia gas leakage and had alerted him.
"I immediately notified the police and fire brigade. As of now, the leakage is contained and we have also evacuated people in buildings around the plant.”
“Fire brigade officials have instructed the unit owner to clear the water tanks in the plant as well," said Pereira.
When contacted, Mormugao Dy Collector Sachin Desai, who was also at the site, said the disaster management team had responded to the situation in quick time.
"We have been told there was a small leak of ammonia gas because repairs were being taken up in the plant.”
“Our fire services and police teams have responded to the incident and the situation is well under control as of now," said Desai.
Vasco Fire Station Officer Fransisco Mendes said firefighters entered the unit and tackled the ammonia gas leakage.
“We were told there was some maintenance going on at the plant. The works have been stopped and all valves have been closed. The leakage has stopped and we have now diluted the fumes using water from the tanks of the unit. The situation is under control," said Mendes.
