Two workers were killed and seven were hospitalised after they inhaled toxic gases at a textile factory in Narol area of the city on Sunday morning, said police. Condition of at least two, admitted at the L G Hospital in the city, was reported to be critical.
The incident took place at Devi Synthetics, a textile factory in Naroda industrial area, when a process to shift acid from a tanker to a tank in the factory was underway, said police officials.
An official of Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) said that they got a call around 10.45am regarding the incident. “After reaching the spot, our team isolated (barricaded) the storage of sulphuric acid, caustic soda and bleaching material. We also carried out a search and rescue operation at the factory and shifted labourers to hospital,” said an official.
According to the AFES official, they also evacuated people from the nearby industrial units to prevent casualty.
“Technically, nine persons got severely injured in terms of respiratory issues due to inhalation (of toxic gases). Fifteen persons were given on-the-spot first-aid with the help of 108 (ambulance)…Total nine people were shifted to hospital of which four were critical,” the official added.
Narol police inspector P C Desai said, “Two persons have been killed in the incident and seven are under treatment. Two of them are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital. The incident happened while shifting acid from a tanker to a tank (in the factory)… Investigations are on in the matter.”
Official sources said that multiple government bodies like Forensics Science Laboratory, Factory Inspector, Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health and Gujarat Pollution Control Board were involved in the investigation on various aspects including whether the factory had all the necessary permissions or not.