Govt asks all ports to review safety after Mumbai mishap

The government today asked all ports to review safety measures following chlorine gas leakage at Mumbai Port Trust early this morning affecting 92 persons.

"All ports have a set of guidelines for safety measures which are adhered to. However, after this incident in Mumbai Port Trust, I have directed authorities to review the safety measures so that such incidents do not take place in any port in future," Shipping Minister G K Vasan told PTI.

Vasan said immediate action has been taken to evacuate all the persons and cordon off the area, besides removing the leaked cylinder.

"All the affected persons have been evacuated and taken to hospitals and have been provided the best medical care. Out of 92 affected persons, more than 32 persons have been discharged," he said.

The Shipping Ministry has also sought a detailed report from the Mumbai Port Trust on the leakage of chlorine gas from one of the cylinders at Hay Bandar area of the Port Trust around 3.30 am.

The Ministry is also seeking help from experts dealing with hazardous material from Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd and Century Rayon.

"Experts in dealing with hazardous chemicals will help the Mumbai Port Trust in handling the situation which is under control," Vasan said adding he is in touch with Maharshtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and the State Health Minister Vijay Kumar Gavit who are monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, according to an official statement, the cylinders were kept at the Hay Bandar area, allocated for storage of hazardous goods over the past few years. The gas had affected persons in the nearby Lal Bahadur Shastri Nautical Institute and a police station in the Siwri area.

"No death has been reported as per discussions with the deputy chairman of the Mumbai Port Trust," the statement said, adding, "As per the records of the Mumbai Port Trust, these cylinders were empty. The Mumbai Port Trust is checking its records to find out if any action had been taken for the disposal of hazardous material in the past."

The country has 13 major ports under the control of central government while about 200 minor ports are under the states jurisdiction besides being controlled by private players.