Toll in GNFC gas leakage climbs to six

Vadodara: With one more contract worker succumbing at a private hospital here, the death toll in the GNFC gas leak mishap in Bharuch district of Gujarat has risen to six, officials said today.

The deceased identified as Motilal Manjhi (25) died last evening. 

He was later cremated at Vadadala village near Bharuch, Bharuch District Collector, Sandeep Kumar told PTI.

Before Manjhi, another worker identified as Vazir Ansari (40) had succumbed to his injuries at a hospital here on November 6.

Earlier, four labourers died and over a dozen others were injured in the incident which took place on the night of November 2 following the leakage of poisonous phosgene gas at a chemical plant of state PSU Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd (GNFC) at Rahiad village in Dahej taluka.

The mishap took place when mechanical failure in a chemical reactor at the company's TDI (Toluene Di-Isocyanate) plant caused leakage of poisonous phosgene gas.

Official sources said that all the six deceased contract workers belonged to Bihar.

Dr J N Singh, Chairman of GNFC told PTI that the company has been collecting details of the next of kin of the family members of the deceased workers for giving an ex-gratia of Rs 8 lakhs to each of them.

The TDI plant, which was shut soon after the leak of will restart only after a safety audit, he said.