Families evacuated in Kochi after leakage of ammonia gas from barge

Kochi: Several families were evacuated from Champakkara area near here after leakage of ammonia gas from a barge on Friday night, district authorities said.

People living in 2 km radius of the incident site have been evacuated, they said.

Over 10 people, who complained of breathing problem, nausea and irritation in the eye after breathing the gas, have been admitted to District Hospital here.

None of them are serious, they said.

The barge carried over 90 tonnes of ammonia and it started leaking at around 6.30 pm when it was passing through a canal.

The gas was being taken to the Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) in Eloor from Willingdon Islands here through the canal.

Experts from the FACT are taking steps to stop the leakage of gas.

Ernakulam district authorities including police, fire force, medical teams and officials from the Disaster Management Authority have been pressed into service to assist people affected by the leakage.