Villagers evacuated as ammonia leaks from ice factory near Colachel in Tamil Nadu

MADURAI: Residents were evacuated from Vaniyakudi village in Kanyakumari district following an ammonia gas leak from an ice factory on Monday morning.
Fire and rescue services personnel from Colachel, Thuckalay and Nagercoil rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control after close to four hours of intensive fighting.
Police personnel were deployed to ensure that people did not come near the plant.
The ice factory where the incident took place is among four such factories in the coastal village. Ice blocks from the factories are purchased by wholesalers as well as smaller units to preserve fish.
They are also used by fishermen at Colachel and Thengapattanam fishing harbour who go for deep sea fishing.
The factory is located in a residential area. Five cylinders with ammonia in liquid state with about 250 kg of the gas – at 50 kg per cylinder – were connected to a valve.
Colachel station fire officer N Devaraj said a crack had developed on a metal pipe -- connecting the ammonia cylinders to a valve -- sometime ago. It was fixed by welding.
On Monday, a crack developed on the same spot, resulting in uncontrolled leak of the gas around 7am.
“Closing the valve was of no use as the leak was between the cylinders and the valve,” he said.
The only option was cooling the gas that was getting leaked (which will get converted to hydrogen when it reacts with water).
Meanwhile, labourers at the plant and the residents of Vaniyakudi started leaving the place after they developed breathing difficulties. They were assisted by police and fire and rescue services personnel. A couple of residents who suffered breathing difficulties were hospitalised.
A team of 25 firefighters started spraying high pressure water on the leak. Equipped with oxygen cylinders, the fighters took turns to go enter the plant and spray water.
“Firefighters who were standing without oxygen cylinders suffered breathing difficulties whenever they were exposed to ammonia for a few minutes. Others replaced them to continue the operation,” Devaraj said.
Two labourers of the plant fell unconscious. They became alright after being brought out of the factory. Water tankers were used to refill fire tenders as the operation continued till the entire stock of ammonia evaporated.
Police deployment was brought down as the operation concluded. Residents started to return home.
Residents said that the ice factories in the village should be relocated to the outskirts.
Colachel assistant superintendent of police E Karthik said action would be taken if they received any complaint from the residents.