A couple of days back, fuming gas leaked from the manufacturing plant of Coromandel International Ltd in Ennore, Chennai. The plant is involved in the manufacturing of Ammonium Phosphate Potash Sulphate (APPS). More than 260 were immediately evacuated, and fifteen people were admitted to the hospital.
This video was captured from #Ennore when the #AmmoniaGas leaked from Coromandel Int'l Ltd.#NGT #AmmoniaGasLeak #Chennai #TNPCB #NGT pic.twitter.com/psxAChvuld
— South One (@SouthOneNews) December 28, 2023
How it happened?
Coromandel group said we noticed an abnormality on the ammonia unloading subsea pipeline adjacent to the seashores outside the plant around 2:20 pm. Further, they reiterated that efforts for normalcy and rapid medical attention were initiated.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) said the ammonia level in the air was 2,090 micrograms per cubic meter instead of the accepted level of 400 micrograms. In the sea, it was 49 milligrams per litre (mg/l), against the standard of 5 mg/l, the board said in a statement.
Also Read: How massive Oil Spill happened in Chennai and NGT’s Stringent Measures
Breathing Difficulties
Residents in several regions near Ennore, such as Thalankuppam, Periyakuppam, Chinnakuppam, Ernavur Kuppam, Netaji Nagar, and Burma Nagar, emerge from their residences struggling to breathe.
On the streets, women with comorbidities and older people collapsed. While a minority reported nasal blood loss, the majority encountered symptoms including dyspnea, irritation of the pharynx and eyes, and shortness of breath.”The water in the sea turned grey. When people saw that fish, crabs, and other sea critters exploded, they ran away. When people came out of their homes, they breathed in the poisonous gas, and many of them passed out on the road. They were taken to hospitals close, both public and private.
Hundreds of #Ennore residents are protesting outside the fertilizer manufacturing unit, demanding its permanent closure.#AmmoniaGas #AmmoniaGasLeak #TNPCBpic.twitter.com/7dVK6INH4q
— South One (@SouthOneNews) December 28, 2023
Demonstration of Protest
Hundreds of people from Ennore held a protest in front of the fertiliser factory near Periyakuppam on Wednesday morning. Men, women, and young people were protesting, and they wanted the government to shut down the unit for good.
One of the protesters said, “The company didn’t tell the residents about the leak; they left us to fight for our lives on our own.” Only our village leaders told us to leave our homes right away, and we did, leaving everything as it was.
நாங்க வாழணுமா.. இல்ல சாகணுமா பயத்தோடயே வாழுறோம்… எங்களால முடியல..’’ கலங்க வைத்த பெண்ணின் அழுகுரல் #Ennore_GasLeak #EnnoreGasLeak #Ennore #EnnoreOilSpill
— நெல்லை செல்வின் (@selvinnellai87) December 27, 2023
pic.twitter.com/tfYwT6Gq76
NGT directed TNPCB to submit Report
The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken notice of an ammonia gas leak from Coromandel International Limited in Ennore, which makes fertiliser. On January 2, 2024, the case is set to be heard. Levels of ammonia above 1,800 microgram/m3 (averaged over 24 hours) are considered “severe” by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
This could have short-term effects on the lungs, even in healthy people, and it could be very bad for people with lung or heart illnesses. Also, Coromandel International Limited has stopped using the Ennore port because it found a problem with the ammonia unloading underwater pipeline near the shore on Tuesday.
