A gas leak in a chlorine cylinder at a water treatment plant supplying drinking water to Mettupalayam municipality in Coimbatore district caused suffocation in some members of the public. The unconscious were rescued and admitted to the Mettupalayam Government Hospital.
Coimbatore: Water which is drawn from the Bhavani river for locals in Mettupalayam municipality area of Coimbatore district is cleaned at the water treatment plant there and supplied to the people of 33 wards.
During such purification, chlorine is usually mixed by the municipal staff in the right proportion to ensure that the water is clean. When the staff at the water treatment plant opened the chlorine cylinder on Monday morning to purify the water, the cylinder exploded with a loud noise and caused a chlorine gas leak.
Due to the gas leak, residents in the area were gasping for breath and some fell unconscious. Following this, neighbours rescued the unconscious and admitted them to a hospital for treatment. The Mettupalayam Fire Department rushed to the spot and started repairing the gas leak.
Tension prevailed in the area for some time as people in the area protested in front of the water treatment plant, claiming that there were frequent minor gas leaks which were not only affecting the unprotected locals in a big way, but also that the municipal staff were not provided with adequate protective equipment.
During such purification, chlorine is usually mixed by the municipal staff in the right proportion to ensure that the water is clean. When the staff at the water treatment plant opened the chlorine cylinder on Monday morning to purify the water, the cylinder exploded with a loud noise and caused a chlorine gas leak.
Due to the gas leak, residents in the area were gasping for breath and some fell unconscious. Following this, neighbours rescued the unconscious and admitted them to a hospital for treatment. The Mettupalayam Fire Department rushed to the spot and started repairing the gas leak.
Tension prevailed in the area for some time as people in the area protested in front of the water treatment plant, claiming that there were frequent minor gas leaks which were not only affecting the unprotected locals in a big way, but also that the municipal staff were not provided with adequate protective equipment.