More than 100 people fell ill in Bangladesh on Tuesday after they inhaled large amounts of ammonia that leaked from a fertiliser plant on the outskirts of Chittagong, Reuters reported . Officials said that the leak, which began on Monday night, was only contained several hours after it began.
The spread of the gas from a state-owned factory was stopped after police and fire brigade officials managed to plug a leaking pipe at the plant, said Mesbah Uddin, the deputy commissioner for the district. “The leakage has been repaired but a few hours more will be needed to get the situation back to normal,” he added. However, at least 50 of those who fell sick are yet to be discharged from a hospital in the area.
The incident comes against the backdrop of Bangladesh being scrutinised over its national safety standards. The country has seen a series of industrial accidents, including fires in garment factories and the collapse of a garment factory in Dhaka in 2013, where more than 1,130 people were reported killed.
You’ve read Scroll.
Now help sustain it
Scroll is funded by readers, not corporate owners. If you believe our work matters, support our newsroom. Become a member today!
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!