Ammonia Leak Under Control After Swift Response in Chhapra

An ammonia gas leak at a Chhapra cold storage plant was quickly contained by local fire officials on Friday. Immediate action minimized the leak, while an investigation into the facility's licensing and safety measures is underway. Meanwhile, five died in a Muzaffarpur hospital fire, with authorities ensuring aid to affected families.

An ammonia gas leak occurred at a cold storage facility in Chhapra's Hemnagar area on Friday, but prompt action by fire officials brought the situation under control, authorities confirmed. Regional Fire Officer Suraj Kumar reported that his team arrived immediately upon receiving the leak alert, managing to control the issue with minimal leakage.

Efforts are ongoing to fully stop the leak, with an engineer expected to arrive shortly. Kumar stated they received immediate reports of the leak and ensured fast intervention to address the ammonia escape effectively. An investigation is now underway to examine the facility's licensing and the apparent lack of safety protocols.

Local authorities shut down the plant's pipelines, citing significant safety oversights, and are scrutinizing the conditions under which the Agriculture Department issued the operating license. This incident follows a tragic fire on Thursday at a private hospital in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, claiming five lives and leaving 18 hospitalized, confirmed Saran SDM Nitesh Kumar.