Panaji: A mock drill carried out on Sunday by the
district administration on ammonia gas leakage caused a
flutter in Goa`s Vasco district.
News about the ammonia leak and many people being carried
to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) spread like
wildfire as Deputy Collector Lavinson Martins called up radio
FM channels and state`s mobile SMS news service to inform
people about the incident.
Authorities said ammonia was leaking from a pipeline
supplying the gas to Zuari Industries Limited (ZIL), a
fertiliser manufacturing plant located on the port town’s
boundary.
"In a major emergency situation Zuari’s ammonia gas has
leaked at Sancoale (near Vasco). Gas is shifting towards Verna
Industrial Estate. Many people affected and shifted to GMC,"
the message circulated through Digital Goa`s mobile SMS news
service read.
Authorities said following the news, vehicles heading to
the airport using the route where the leakage happened took
alternate roads.
"The mock drill was successful ... we even had mock
casualties on the road and shifted around 150 people from the
Sancoale village jurisdiction," Martins said.
However, media organisations termed the action of the
district authorities "over activism". Neeraj Naik, Editor,
Digital Goa, said that "We are not part of disaster
management. The wrong news circulated through us created
tremendous panic among people."
Martins, however, said the entire exercise was done in
tandem with the rules prescribed under National Disaster
Management Act.
"We are supposed to take the help of FM Radio and other
media to create a realistic situation," he said.
Martins said everything done during the exercise has been
documented and will be analysed by the authorities.
Bureau Report
