Odisha Firefighters Successfully Manage Ammonia Leak at Paradip Ice Factory

Swift Action Prevents Major Incident

Paradip: On Wednesday, personnel from the Odisha Fire and Emergency Services effectively managed an ammonia gas leak at an ice manufacturing facility in Paradip, according to officials.

The team took approximately three and a half hours to control the situation.

A statement from the department highlighted, "Our quick and coordinated response prevented a significant industrial disaster due to the ammonia leak at the Paradip Ice Factory."

The fire service received notification of the leak around 11:03 AM, and a crew from the Kujang Fire Station, led by Officer Kartik Kumar Biswal, arrived on-site by 11:19 AM to initiate emergency containment efforts, which lasted until 2:05 PM.

Two leaking ammonia cylinders, each weighing 60 kg, were identified and safely removed from the site. The factory had a total of eight cylinders (480 kg), but only the two leaking ones were impacted, as per an official report.

In a precautionary measure, all employees were evacuated promptly, and access to the facility was strictly limited during the operation.

The fire team adhered to chemical safety protocols, utilizing fire proximity suits, breathing apparatus, helmets, gumboots, and continuous water spray to reduce ammonia concentration and minimize exposure risks.

Fortunately, there were no fires or explosions, and no injuries or casualties were reported, the official confirmed, noting that additional support was provided by fire units from PPL and IFFCO.