Four workers were killed and 13 sustained injuries in a gas leakage at the TDI unit of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (GNFC) in Dahej in neighbouring Bharuch district, police said today.
Four workers were killed and as many as 13 others were injured due to leakage of phosgene gas at the TDI unit last night, Bharuch Superintendent of Police, Sandeep Singh told PTI.
Prima facie, it looks the mishap took place due to mechanical failure, he said.
The 13 injured were admitted to a hospital in the district, out of which two have been referred to government hospital in Baroda. Three workers were discharged, Singh said.
A team of Forensic Science Laboratory will visit the site later in the day, he added.
Meanwhile, district Collector Sandeep Kumar Sagale said, "We have asked Director of Industrial Safety and Health to investigate the mishap. The management of GNFC has also appointed a technical committee to probe the matter.
(REOPENS BES 7)
In a filing to BSE, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals (GNFC) said "four contract workers from outside Gujarat died during treatment as a result of gas inhalation".
The company said that on late night of November 2, there was a mechanical failure of heat exchanger at TDI-II plant of GNFC at Dahej and as a result, there was a "hazardous gas leak".
A few contract workers and regular company workers got affected due to gas leak and they were shifted to Bharuch for emergency medical care.
"Four contract workers from outside Gujarat died during treatment as a result of gas inhalation. Six additional affected workers are being administered best possible medical care. Their condition as per available medical record is not critical," the filing said.
As a precautionary measure, the company said the TDI plant of Dahej has been completely shut down and emergency safety action has been taken.
Normally, under the company rules, the employees on the company roll are entitled to ex-gratia amount of Rs 8 lakh. However, the company has decided to extend the same benefit of Rs 8 lakh ex-gratia to the nearest kith and kin of contract workers on ground of humanity.
"The situation is completely under control and there is no cause of worry. And there is no danger whatsoever to human population in nearby villages," GNFC said.
The company has formed a committee to ascertain the cause of accident and a third-party safety audit has also been ordered, GNFC said.
