Gas leak from Rashtriya Chemical Fertiliser plant in Chembur spooks Mumbai

It was later found that the gas leakage started at Rashtriya Chemical Fertiliser plant in Chembur.

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Mumbai: A gas leakage was reported at several locations in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai on Thursday triggering panic among local residents who complained of foul smell and called the Fire Brigade officials for help. However, no untoward incident was reported due to the gas leakage, which has now been fully contained.

The gas leakage was reported from several areas including Powai, Chembur, Mankhurd in the eastern Mumbai.

It was later found that the gas leakage started at the Rashtriya Chemical Fertiliser plant in Chembur. 

Several users from Mumbai took to Twiter and complained of a very strong nauseating typical gas chemical smell throughout Parle West and other areas. Responding to it, Mumbai Police directed them to address their grievances to Thane Rural Police on their control room contact no. 02225342784.

After several complaints, officials from Fire Brigade and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board rushed to investigate the nature and source of the gas leakage. 

Mumbai civic body - Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) - later confirmed that the leakage started in the Rashtriya Chemical Fertiliser's Chembur plant but added that it has been fully contained. 

''There was a gas leakage at RCF (Rashtriya Chemical Fertilisers) in Chembur plant and has stopped now,'' the Disaster Management Cell of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said. 

''We have intimated Mahanagar Gas Limited and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to check on finding the cause of increased smell..we are alerting other agencies as well,'' it added.

MGL also issued a statement in which it said that gas leakage was not related to its pipelines.

''Our emergency team is further checking and we will update you shortly,'' the MGL said in a statement.

It may be recalled that in March this year, a suspected gas leakage was reported from an area near Ghatla village in suburban Chembur in Mumbai.