Residents complain of toxic gas emissions from a chemical factory in Chembur

Mumbai: Residents of Chembur woke up to red eyes and burning skin yesterday, allegedly due to the emission of harmful gases from a nearby chemical factory. The residents claimed that the unit had released ammonia and other harmful chemical gases, videos of which were circulated on social media, showing huge amounts of smoke being released from the chimney of the fertiliser-manufacturing factory, making the skies hazy and foggy. The factory claims that the emission was purely water vapour and that the concerned authorities had conducted a site visit, confirming that there was no gas leak.

On Monday afternoon, the readings of Sulphur Dioxide, a colourless gas that has a pungent smell and causes irritation and inflammation in the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, peaked at 105, after which the recordings were intermittent.