50 hospitalised after Ctg factory gas leak

At least 50 people were hospitalised following a gas leak at a fertiliser factory in Chittagong last night. Most of them were workers of that very factory and of some other nearby fertiliser factories. The gas leak of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) occurred around 11pm at one of the gas reservoirs of DAP Fertiliser Company Ltd in Rangadiya on the bank of the Karnaphuli River near the Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL). It was learnt that the reservoir was containing about 500-tonne ammonia gas. Majority of the people who had fallen ill inhaling ammonia were rushed to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). They were admitted to different hospitals with complaints of respiratory complications due to ammonia inhalation.  Chittagong Civil Surgeon Azizur Rahman Siddique, who was supervising medical operations at the CMCH, said there was nothing to be panicked as inhaling ammonia will not be life threatening.
“Apart from temporary breathing problems, people may feel irritation. Death due to ammonia inhalation is very rare. However, people should avoid going close to the source of leak. Otherwise their lungs may get affected by gas inhalation as ammonia has a pungent smell,” the civil surgeon said.
Our hospitals are ready to treat people and we have cancelled leaves of all our physicians, he said. He also urged people not to be panicked. “Don’t cover your faces and inhale air as much as you can. The children should be helped to inhale properly. Unless not inhaled right at the leak source, the inhalation of the gas will not be life threatening,” Siddique added.
Chittagong Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mezbah Uddin said the authorities were urging people not to be panicked .
“We are trying to move them away from the source of the gas-leak. Law enforcing agencies and fire service personnel are trying to contain the situation,” he told reporters around 1am.
Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. This can cause different complications and may even result in respiratory distress or failure. However, the local authorities maintained that the concentration of ammonia that has spread in the city was not harmful. About 10 fire-fighting units were working to contain the leak as of filing this report at 1:30am.

 

50 hospitalised after Ctg factory gas leak

At least 50 people were hospitalised following a gas leak at a fertiliser factory in Chittagong last night. Most of them were workers of that very factory and of some other nearby fertiliser factories. The gas leak of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) occurred around 11pm at one of the gas reservoirs of DAP Fertiliser Company Ltd in Rangadiya on the bank of the Karnaphuli River near the Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL). It was learnt that the reservoir was containing about 500-tonne ammonia gas. Majority of the people who had fallen ill inhaling ammonia were rushed to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). They were admitted to different hospitals with complaints of respiratory complications due to ammonia inhalation. Chittagong Civil Surgeon Azizur Rahman Siddique, who was supervising medical operations at the CMCH, said there was nothing to be panicked as inhaling ammonia will not be life threatening. Apart from temporary breathing problems, people may feel irritation. Death due to ammonia inhalation is very rare. However, people should avoid going close to the source of leak. Otherwise their lungs may get affected by gas inhalation as ammonia has a pungent smell, the civil surgeon said. Our hospitals are ready to treat people and we have cancelled leaves of all our physicians, he said. He also urged people not to be panicked. Dont cover your faces and inhale air as much as you can. The children should be helped to inhale properly. Unless not inhaled right at the leak source, the inhalation of the gas will not be life threatening, Siddique added. Chittagong Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mezbah Uddin said the authorities were urging people not to be panicked . We are trying to move them away from the source of the gas-leak. Law enforcing agencies and fire service personnel are trying to contain the situation, he told reporters around 1am. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. This can cause different complications and may even result in respiratory distress or failure. However, the local authorities maintained that the concentration of ammonia that has spread in the city was not harmful. About 10 fire-fighting units were working to contain the leak as of filing this report at 1:30am.