52 hospitalised after chlorine leak at Godhani water plant in Nagpur

Nagpur witnessed a chlorine gas leak at a water treatment plant in Godhani on Sunday night, resulting in 52 people being hospitalized. Twelve of the patients have since been discharged, while all remain in stable condition. Four minors were among those admitted to the hospital. Residents in the immediate vicinity reported breathing difficulties, and several were rushed to Mayo Hospital and nearby private facilities.

The area surrounding the affected tanker continued to emit a strong chlorine odor upon a visit to the scene on Monday morning, although the situation was being contained. Several organizations, including the Orange City Water Works (OCW), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), collaborated to evacuate individuals from the impacted zone and restore order.

The OCW team, operating at the Godhani Gram Panchayat-operated water plant, utilized self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) sets to alleviate the emergency. Police and Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) officials commended the rapid response and support provided by OCW personnel. Preliminary indications suggest that the leak originated from a 900-kg chlorine tank that had been stationed on the premises for six months, with a suspected wall rupture causing the incident.

The exact cause and sequence of events leading to the leak will be determined through a police investigation. The impact of the leak seemed to be primarily localized to the plant area, with residents and morning walkers in other parts of Godhani Road resuming their daily activities without apparent alarm. Videos circulating on social media purportedly depicted deceased stray dogs in the affected region, although the cause and circumstances of their deaths have not been independently confirmed.