A major poisonous ammonia gas leak at IFFCO plant in Phulpur

Preliminary investigation suggests that the incident happened due to a pipe leak. While the gas leak has been contained, work is now underway to provide relief to affected workers.

At least two persons have died in a gas leakage at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) plant in Phulpur, Prayagraj.

A major ammonia gas leak accident late on Tuesday night at the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited’s (IFFCO) Phulpur unit in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj has claimed two lives and left at least 15 people hospitalised.

The unfortunate incident took place on Tuesday night. Two senior IFFCO officials – VP Singh and Abhay Nandan – died following the ammonia gas leakage in one of the units of the plant. The affected unit of the plant has been closed.

As many as 15 IFFCO officials have been affected by the ammonia gas leak and they have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

According to initial reports, the gas leak occurred in the fertiliser production unit of the plant. Senior officials have rushed to the plant and the cause of the gas leak is being ascertained.

The gas leakage has stopped now, said Prayagraj DM Bhanu Chandra Goswami. He added that the situation is under control now.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the incident and has instructed officials to carry out relief work expeditiously.

The Chief Minister has ordered the state government officials to investigate the cause of the incident.

The initial investigation by technical staff says that the gas leak occurred due to a technical problem but thorough investigation will be done by experts. A committee for investigation is being formed to find the actual cause behind the leak.

There have been five gas leak events in the past two years. IFFCO gas leak on Tuesday (December 22) has raised a number of questions on the functioning of IFFCO management.

The gas leakage at the IFFCO plant in Phulpur, Prayagraj has once again brought to fore the management’s failure to put in place adequate safety measures to save precious human lives in case of such unfortunate incidents. Poisonous ammonia gas was reported to have leaked at the IFFCO plant. According to the reports, the gas leak took place at the plant’s fertilizer production unit.

The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) PRO, Vishwajeet Srivastava has said that strict action will be taken against the officials found guilty in the investigation.