Mumbai: Gas Leak Reports Spark Panic Across City, Fire Engines Mobilised

Panic gripped several parts areas of Mumbai after many residents in city's western and eastern suburbs late on Thursday night complained of an unknown smell that quickly sparked rumours of a gas leak at the Rashtriya Chemical Fertiliser's plant in the Chembur suburb. However, the city's civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Trombay division police said that there is no leakage at the fertilizer plant.

The odour, which started emerging around 10 pm, was reported from places like Chembur, Mankhurd, Govandi, Chandivali, Powai, Ghatkopar and Andheri.

The police said no injuries have been reported. The BMC said they received a total of 29 complaints on the 1916 helpline over an unknown smell that has considerably reduced now.

The fire department has received complaints from different places in the city. This smell is coming from different places in the city for about an hour. It has been reported in Sion, Malad, Andheri and other places.

"We have recieved complaints from citizens about odour of some unknown gas in eastern and western suburbs. MCGM has mobilised all concerned agencies. 9 fire engines have been mobilised at various places to find out source of leakage. For any queries, please call 1916 #MCGMUpdates," the BMC tweeted. 

We have recieved complaints from citizens about odour of some unknown gas in eastern and western suburbs. MCGM has mobilized all concerned agencies. 9 fire engines have been mobilized at various places to find out source of leakage. For any queries, please call 1916 #MCGMUpdates

— माà¤Âी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) September 19, 2019

Meanwhile, the Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) said in a statement: “As of now we know that it is not related to MGL gas pipelines. Our emergency team is further checking and we will update you shortly.”

The BMC’s disaster team said: “We have intimated Mahanagar Gas Limited and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to check on finding the cause of increased smell. We are alerting other agencies as well."

On Twitter, MGL said: "Since late evening, MGL has been receiving complaints of gas smell from various parts of Mumbai. Our emergency teams spread out to sites from where complaints were received. So far, we have not come across any breach in our pipeline system which could result in leakage of gas."