An antiquated cylinder containing highly poisonous chlorine gas started leaking at a Sewree warehouse in the early hours of Wednesday, affecting around 126 people in the vicinity. All 126 have had to be hospitalised.

A cylinder full of chlorine gas stored in a warehouse of the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) started leaking at around 3 am Wednesday. The cylinder is one of 105 that have been lying at the warehouse for the last 13 years.
The first victims were MbPT staff and Mathadi Kamgar, who were working in the Hay Bandar premises of the MbPT, from where the gas started leaking. Fire brigade officers who rushed to the spot were also affected. Students of the adjacent maritime colleges were evacuated by rescue teams. As a precautionary measure, more than 500 persons were evacuated from the vicinity.
There were 105 cylinders in the warehouse, of which 100 were empty, and the remaining five filled with chlorine gas. One of these five cylinders started leaking around 3 am on Wednesday. Fire brigade officers attempted to neutralise the poisonous gas by spraying the entire surroundings with sodium hydroxide. The 45-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was summoned from Pune. The team separated the full and empty cylinders. By evening the leaking cylinder was completely plugged. However, the process of degassing the five cylinders by releasing the chlorine gas inside them into a solution of caustic soda was on till late into the night. Experts from Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers and Century Rayon are assisting the relief operation.
Of the 126 people who were affected, 109 are currently recuperating in KEM Hospital in Parel, JJ Hospital and Balaji Hospital in Byculla, and the MbPT Hospital in Wadala. The condition of the rest was not serious and they were either discharged or treated as outpatients. Dr T.P. Lahane, dean of JJ Hospital where 86 patients are currently recuperating, said, “Eighteen patients are in the ICU, but all of them are stable. Most of them are complaining of a burning sensation in the eyes, respiratory problems, headache and nausea.” Of the people affected by inhaling the poisonous gas, Tanaji Jadhav, a police constable, is recuperating in the ICU of Balaji Hospital in Byculla. Mr Jadhav was amongst the first to rush to the spot after learning about the leak.
Dr Amita Athavale, chest physician at KEM Hospital, said, “Chlorine is highly irritant and its effect on an individual depends on the concentration of the chemical in the air and for how long he or she is exposed to the chemical. If the concentration of chlorine in the air is above 500 parts per million, it is fatal.”
Meanwhile, the ministry of shipping has sought a detailed report from the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) on the incident. “The MbPT is checking its records to find out whether any action had been taken for the disposal of the hazardous material in the past,” an official press release said.
R.M. Murthy, the PR officer of the Transport and Dockworkers Union, Mumbai, said there is a dedicated post for assistant manager in the “hazardous cargo” department in the MbPT, but this post has been lying vacant for the last two years. “A chemical engineer who has vast knowledge in the field must be appointed to this post,” Mr Murthy said. MbPT chairman Rahul Asthana has assured that he would try and find out more about the vacancies. “These are just some irrelevant issues which the unions are trying to rake up,” Mr Asthana said.
The police has registered a case against officers of the MbPT under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Environment Protection Act.