36 hours in, officials still clueless about ‘gas leak’
Amid lack of any conclusive results, the civic body has convened a meeting of senior officials today to discuss the issue
Almost 36 hours after an unknown odour prompted rumours of a gas leak at a chemical fertiliser plant in Mumbai, officials are yet to ascertain the exact source of the odour or leak.
Complaints of ‘gas leak’ were received from many parts of the city, following which a search was initiated to trace its source. Amid lack of any conclusive results, the civic body has convened a meeting of senior officials today to discuss the issue.
On Thursday night, residents of Mumbai’s western and eastern suburbs reported an unknown odour, prompting rumours of a gas leak at the Rashtriya Chemical Fertiliser’s plant in the Chembur suburb.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said the odour was reported from Powai, Chembur, Mankhurd, Govandi, Andheri, Chandivali and Ghatkopar areas. However, no injuries were reported.
A fire brigade spokesperson said the unknown odour was also reported from areas adjoining the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in northern suburb Borivli and nine fire engines were sent at various places to find out the source of leakage.
The Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), which supplies piped gas in Mumnai, said it had received complaints of gas smell from various parts of Mumbai late Thursday night.
“Our emergency teams reached the sites from where the complaints were received. So far, we have not come across any breach in our pipeline system which could result in leakage of gas,” the MGL said.
A BMC official said, “In order to trace the origin of the reported gas leak, we deployed fire engines at Deonar, Mankhurd, Chembur, Vikhroli, Dindoshi, Vile Parle, Kanivali and Dahisar areas”.
The purported gas leak was reported by several netizens on social media and remaining a trending topic for the next 24 hours.
