Fire triggers chemical leak in Navi Mumbai

The official said while they were trying to douse the flames,bystanders began coughing while some complained of respiratory problems.

“It was then that we inquired and realised that sulphur was stored on the premises. We got trucks filled with sand to douse the flames and told bystanders not to stand close to the godown,” the officer said.

The fire was extinguished five hours after it broke out. Four persons who were standing close to the area were rushed to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Hospital in Vashi after they complained of respiratory problems.

Doctors at the hospital said while the condition of those who were rushed to the hospital is stable,they are suffering from eye infections,coughs and breathing problems as a result of inhaling the sulphur dioxide fumes.

Navi Mumbai’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Purushottam Karad said the police are speaking to members of the Pollution Control Board to ascertain the damage caused.

“We cannot comment on the issue,as only experts from the Pollution Control Board will be able to say if the area is safe or not. We have registered an accidental fire report and are probing the matter further,” said Karad.

An accidental fire report has been registered at APMC police station,where officers have said they are probing the matter to ascertain the damage caused.