Toxic gas runs havoc

A fireman points to a Keraniganj factory pipe from which heavier-than-air chlorine gas was leaking earlier yesterday. The cracked rusty pipe that discharged the toxic gas, bottom left. One of the few trees, bottom right, in the factory compound that turned gray following the leak. The tree was lush green even the day before. Photo: Palash Khan

At least 100 people fell sick as toxic gas leaked out of a Keraniganj factory on the city outskirts yesterday.
The seepage of chlorine from a pipe of Global Heavy Chemical Limited at Hasnabad was reported around 8:45am, police said.
On information, three Fire Service and Civil Defence teams from Dhaka headquarters and Postogola station ran to the factory, and after 45 minutes they managed to turn off the gas line.
While trying to stop the leak, 13 firemen started feeling unwell. Besides, at least 40 workers and engineers of the firm and many locals were among those taken ill.
Of the victims, at least 15 people, including four firefighters, were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital while 19 others, including nine from fire service, were being treated at Mitford Hospital.
Doctors told The Daily Star that the patients were under support of oxygen and saline. “Most of them are suffering from breathing problem.”
The factory on around 10-acre land manufactures cleaning products and acids. Over 50 engineers and 400 other employees work there.
An engineer said he heard a bang in the morning and got a strong smell of chlorine, a poisonous gas that has a choking effect. Within a few seconds, he became unconscious.
The engineer suspects that heavy pressure might have caused the leakage while workers say the pipe was old and the metal had begun to rust.
Employee Shahidul Islam said he was still asleep. He woke up hearing noises and was about to run, but fainted.
The gas immediately rendered many other employees senseless.
Abdus Salam, station officer of Postogola fire service, said he was suffocating as he entered the complex without wearing a mask.
Leaves on the trees around the factories got discoloured and were looking sick after the leak. Most of their branches were dying.
Meanwhile, locals staged angry demonstrations demanding the removal of the factory from the area.
A number of residents left the area while shops and educational institutions near the firm were closed.