A case of negligence has been registered against the office-bearers and contractors of Naik Oceanic Exports Private Limited in Taloja MIDC after a gas leak was reported at the company on Monday. The case has been booked against the plant in-charge Vinod Nair and contractors Padmanabhan Mohandas, Bonu Ravikumar and Prashant Kumar.
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The four men have been booked under Sections 278 (making atmosphere noxious to health), 284 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance), 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code, and relevant sections of the Environment Protection Act and the Pollution Control Act.
Ajay Landge, senior police inspector from Taloja police station, said, “We found in our investigation that the company used large quantities of ammonia and did not have adequate security measures in place to avoid the leakage. Five women employees of the company were hospitalised when they suffered dizziness and started vomiting after ammonia gas leaked from the compressor.”
The women were identified as Rakhimabibi Sabeerali Mulla (23), Rashidabibi Ameerul Kazi (22), Musleemakhatun Hafeelul Mulla (20), Asmakhatun Sikander Kazi (18) and Rabiyabibi Haran Mulla (42), all residents of Dongricha pada. Three of them were discharged after treatment.
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Panic-stricken villagers
All residents of Dongricha pada had vacated the village after the gas leak at 7 p.m. on Monday. They returned to the village only after fire officers reached the spot and confirmed that it was safe to go back.
In November 2010, an FIR was lodged against the company and its officials were booked after a similar gas leak led to the hospitalisation of 40 people, including women and children.