Guwahati: As many as 28 people became unwell as a result of breathing in ammonia gas that was leaking from a shrimp processing facility in the Balasore district of Odisha on Wednesday.
As soon as they arrived, police authorities and a fire rescue squad saved 28 workers from the Highland Agro Food Private Limited prawn plant and transported them to Khantapada Hospital. An official said that of them, 15 were sent to Balasore and other hospitals. According to reports, the tragedy happened at around 7 o’clock in the village of Gadabahanaga in the Khantapada region of the district.
“While 28 were admitted to the local community health centre at Khantapada, 15 are referred to Balasore. Till now only 7 workers were shifted to Balasore district headquarters hospital and out of them 4 are in serious condition and 3 are discharged,” said Dr Julalsen Jagdev, Balasore Chief District Medical Officer yesterday.
He added that the personnel who were exposed to the gas complained of throat, nose, and respiratory tract burning.
“Inhalation of lower concentrations can cause coughing, and nose and throat irritation. Many of them complained of problems in breathing and irritation in the eyes. We are giving them oxygen for breathing. The condition of the other 8 workers is not known whether they were admitted in other hospital or referred to Cuttack or Bhubaneswar,” he said.
A former Union Minister and Balasore MP Pratap Sadangi met the hospital staff members and had a medical check-up with them.
Police in Balasore are looking into the situation.