15 fall sick after ammonia leak

Kakinada: Leak of ammonia gas from a shrimp packaging and export unit created panic at Gurajanapalli village in Karapa mandal in East Godavari district on Monday. Fifteen women labourers took ill after inhaling the gas. 

According to sources, the packaging unit, V B Exports,  hires women labourers to pack the shrimps for exporting. The packaging unit maintains a very low temperature to preserve shrimp for longer periods.  Ammonia gas leaked at the unit leading to indisposition of 15 women.  Sources said that among the 15 women, 10 were seriously ill after inhaling ammonia gas. 

The women labourers noticed some strong smell and after inhaling the gas many of them experienced drowsy feeling, eye irritation and tears. Some of them complained of vomiting after inhaling the gas and went into unconsciousness.

The management of the unit tried to keep this incident as confidential; but the relatives of the victims disclosed the ammonia leak incident. All the women who inhaled ammonia are now getting treatment at Sri Lakshmi hospital at Godarigunta.

It is said that two women are in critical condition. The management has not yet confirmed the gas leak incident. This shrimp packaging and exporting unit belongs to close kin of a former MLA. Speaking to The Hans India Karapa Sub-Inspector Appala Raju said that they had registered a case against VB Exports under Sections 337 and 338 of IPC. 

This is the third such ammonia leak incident during the past one year in the unit. He said that a complaint was filed by one of the victims Devu Subba Lakshmi. SI also said that all are safe and under medical care.  The victims were identified as Devu Subba Lakshmi, Voleti Kameswari, Bandi Jyothi, Revu Kameswari, Rachha Sudha, Surimalla Devi and Singirimalli Durga.