Kollam:
A day after 70 children were hospitalized in Kollam district in Kerala after an alleged gas leak from a unit of the state-run Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML), government sources told NDTV that the machinery at KMML is reportedly old and corroded with an outdated acid generation plant.
They also added that the factory has not implemented most of the recommendations made by factories and boilers department on safety.
However, a top factory official denied the charges.
"We have implemented 34 recommendations, others are time taking. We are located in coastal belt which facilitates corrosion and our industry processes are corrosive. We have tried to adhere to safety standards as much as possible," said KMML CMD Michael Siromony.
At the Valiyat Institute of Medical Sciences, some of the children experienced repeated bouts of nausea.
Jhansi Rani sat nearby her 10-year-old child who complained of breathlessness for the second time since being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.
"I am scared that what will happen when I take the child home. What if it happens again and he feels breathless. What will I do?" said Ms Rani.
Adding to the worry is the fact that KMML had a similar gas leak that left over 40 people, including students, hospitalized on Wednesday.
District Collector Pranab Jyotinath hinted at the possibility of existing toxic gas from earlier leakage as the cause but said that the conclusion can be made only after the panel report. KMML has been shut down since Wednesday.
Although factory officials admitted that there was a nozzle leak on Wednesday causing the release of fuse gas, the reason for hospitalization of students on Thursday is not yet known.
"Children have been speaking about some abnormal smell, they have inhaled some gas, could be the leaked gas, but all are out of danger and stable. 1 child has complained of drowsiness and three of vomiting after which several complained in a group. So we are unsure if this could be psychological for few," said Dr Hariprasad, a pediatrician at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram.