Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday said that it has directed the fire department to check up on complaints of a foul smell emanating in multiple areas. “We have received a couple of complaints of a suspected gas leak, from residents in Chembur, Ghatkopar, Kanjurmarg, Vikhroli & Powai,” the BMC said.
Going by preliminary reports, the BMC HQ logged a reported gas leakage at US Vitamin company near Indira Apartment on Station Road, Govandi at 9:53 PM on Saturday. For this purpose, agencies that have been mobilised to check the source of the leak are Mumbai Police, Mahanagar Gas (MGL), Mumbai Fire Brigade, ward staff and air pollution staff of the BMC.
In a statement on Sunday, US Vitamin clarified, “We wish to clarify that no foul smell emanated from our Govandi facility, as reported by certain sections of the media. The facility was fully checked by our Safety team last night.”
According to the fire department, residents of the areas in question have been making calls regarding a foul smell. These areas include Ghatkopar and Chembur. Officials with the fire department said that when personnel were dispatched to the areas, they could also smell gas in varying measure. The reason for the supposed gas leak is yet to be identified.
Saturday’s incident comes nearly nine months after a similar gas leak took place in the Chembur area. In September 2019, reports of an unknown odour prompted rumours of a gas leak at the Rashtriya Chemical Fertiliser’s plant in the Chembur suburb. However, officials remained clueless on the issue with no confirmation on the source of origin.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said the odour was reported from Powai, Chembur, Mankhurd, Govandi, Andheri, Chandivali and Ghatkopar areas.
The plant had officially denied claims of a gas leak.
News Source: India Today