An investigative committee consisting of three members was formed to investigate the toxic gas leak at Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Ltd (CUFL) on Monday night.
The committee has been asked to submit the probe report within seven working days.
Additional District Magistrate Mominur Roshid will lead the committee, Chittagong District Administration Assistant Commissioner Abdus Samad Shikdar said.
The gas leak of Diammonium phosphate occurred at one of the gas tanks at DAP Fertilizer Company Ltd’s Factory 1 in Rangadiya around 10:50pm on Monday.
Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. This can cause different complications and may even result in respiratory distress or failure.
Chittagong Medical College Hospital police outpost Nayek Abdul Hamid said: “At least 35 people were admitted to the hospital on Monday. Few were released after treatment.”
An official of the DAP factory said the capacity of the leaked tank was 500 tonnes. He said one of the three tanks at the factory premises at Rangadia leaked.
“People are working to plug the leakage,” he said.
Agrabad Fire Service official Jasim Uddin said fire-fighters were spraying water around the affected tank to stop the gas from spreading further.
Ittefaq
