TAXILA: A gas leak at an under-construction ice factory along G.T. Road in a residential area of Hassanabdal affected scores of people and left a number of people, mostly children, hospitalised, rescue officials said on Tuesday.

According to residents, the leakage of ammonia gas created panic in the area and forced a number of people to leave their homes to avoid the impact of the toxic gas.

They said since a nearby school was closed due to examinations, a major disaster was averted.

Mohammad Imran, a resident of the area, told Dawn that employees of the factory “illegally operating in the compound” escaped when the ammonia gas started leaking. Mr Imran claimed it was a rescue team that responded to the emergency and managed to control the leakage.

At least one dozen manufacturing units operating in residential areas

As per reports, the workers were on routine duty when suddenly the gas started leaking due to “defective and substandard” gas cylinders. Attock District Emergency Officer Ali Hasnain said that following the incident, the rescue officials entered the factory and controlled the leak by shutting off the main valve of the gas cylinder.

He said that liquid ammonia is used as a refrigerant in ice plants as it takes a lot of energy from the surroundings to vaporise.

“Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract and can also result in blindness, lung damage or even death in severe cases. Inhalation of lower concentrations can cause coughing, and nose and throat irritation,” Mr Hasnain said.

Protest against factory

Following the gas leakage incident, the locals held a protest against the administration and the factory owners.

Talking to mediapersons, they said that despite repeated written complaints, the administration was reluctant to take action and demanded the immediate shutting down of the units running in the residential area.

A resident, Tahir Durrani, said such manufacturing units should not be allowed to work in residential areas as they might prove fatal for inhabitants.

An official of the local administration said gas leaked from an old cylinder kept in the warehouse of the factory.

Mohammad Nawaz, Attock’s bomb disposal commander, said the bomb disposal squad visited the premises as well, adding that the gas leaked due to possible negligence of the employees or substandard gas cylinders.

According to sources, almost a dozen manufacturing units, most of them unregistered, were operating in the residential areas by violating all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and security measures with the connivance of local administration, including the Civil Defence and environment department.

They said the gas leakage incidents often happened due to substandard material and added the environment department was responsible for checking the licences and the condition of the units, while the Civil Defence was responsible for the supervision of the security measures taken by these units.

They added all manufacturing units running in the city were not only unregistered but also violating SOPs.

When contacted, Assistant Commissioner Dr Sana Ramchand said that soon after the incident, the local administration swung into action and took steps to control the situation.

She said the premises were sealed for illegal activity and a report was sought from the environmental department to take legal action against the owner of the manufacturing unit over negligence.

Dr Ramchand said such manufacturing units would not be allowed to operate in the residential area and violators would be dealt with iron hands.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2023