Gasping for breath, running for their lives: Inside Nagpur’s chlorine gas leak horror that hospitalised 56 | Nagpur News

A chlorine gas leak at a Nagpur water treatment plant sent 56 residents to hospital (Photo credit: X)

NAGPUR: A major chemical emergency unfolded in Nagpur early Monday after a chlorine gas leak at a water treatment plant in Godhani sent 56 residents to hospital, with eight of them currently being treated in the ICU.The leak occurred at a water treatment plant operated by Godhani Gram Panchayat near Collector’s Colony.The gas spread into nearby residential areas, leaving several people with breathing difficulties and triggering panic, news agency ANI reported.Of the 56 people admitted, 11 have been discharged, while 45 remain hospitalised. Eight patients with severe exposure are undergoing treatment in the ICU.Preliminary information from the site suggested that a 900-kg chlorine tank kept at the plant had developed a leak in its wall.The exact cause of the leakage is yet to be established and will be determined through an inquiry.

Leak contained after emergency response

Responders moved swiftly to contain the leak.The faulty chlorine cylinder was submerged in water to neutralise the escaping gas, while specialised teams reached the affected area.The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), industrial safety officials, health department teams and the District Disaster Management Authority were involved in the emergency response.Orange City Water Works, NDRF and Nagpur Municipal Corporation teams also assisted in evacuating people and controlling the situation.Officials said chlorine concentration in the area was gradually declining.However, officials clarified that the affected facility is operated by Godhani Gram Panchayat and not by Nagpur Municipal Corporation or Orange City Water Works.OCW personnel assisted in the emergency response using self-contained breathing apparatus sets.

Door-to-door checks launched

With concerns over delayed symptoms following chlorine exposure, health teams began door-to-door checks in the affected locality to identify residents requiring medical attention.Nagpur district collector Kumar Ashirwad led the multi-agency response, while senior officials reviewed the situation and medical arrangements, ANI reported.A station diary entry was made by Mankapur police, and an inquiry is being conducted.No offence had been registered at the time of the latest update.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Nagpur guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule were briefed about the situation.Bawankule directed authorities to ensure uninterrupted treatment for those affected and keep additional health facilities on alert.The incident has also raised questions over the storage and handling of large quantities of chlorine at the water plant, with the collector flagging the open storage of the 900-kg cylinder.(With agency inputs)