Fire wing blames Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd

Kochi: The barge in which liquid ammonia spill was detected on Friday here had no safety equipment such as water pumping system which delayed plugging of the leak and caused panic among the local residents. The Fire Force Department on Saturday wrote to the Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT), which frequently transports ammonia and other hazardous chemicals in barges through Chitrapuzha river, on the ‘safety violations’ and measures to be taken immediately for future operations.

“Ammonia is highly hazardous and requires contingency plan in place to deal with any emergencies. A leak can be controlled only by constantly spraying water on it. However, the barge, operated by a FACT contractor, didn’t have pumping system or breathing apparatus. We’ve written to them to ensure these in future,” said Ernakulam divisional fire officer R. Prasad.

The leak that happened on Friday was detected by 6 pm, but it couldn’t be plugged for the next five hours, forcing the evacuation of 300 families and hispitalisation of 20 people.

“By the time the fire force units arrived, none could go near the barge. Finally the fire engines were used to continuously spray water and control the leak. A pipe leading to the valve has broken apart. The experts made temporary arrangements to take the barge to the FACT premises,” the officer said. FACT has also ordered a probe, especially on how the pipeline leading to the valve of one of the three bullet chambers got damaged.

Ammonia ferrying banned

District Collector M.G. Rajamanickam has issued orders banning ferrying of ammonia through barges till further orders. The Collector said that the security lapse leading to the leakage of ammonia would also be probed. He also said that the barge leak was due to the security lapse on the part of FACT.

He ordered to make a detailed inspection of the barge, boiler and factory and find out if the barge is capable of ferrying ammonia. A report has to be submitted by June 1. The barge cannot be used for taking ammonia till the inquiry is over.

He instructed that security measures should be put in place including emergency response boat, floating pump, oxygen cylinder with masks within two months. If any lapse in this regard is occurred, then ferrying ammonia on barge will be totally prohibited, he said.