Major chemical leak averted at Andhra Pradesh paper mills

RAJAHMUNDRY: Major mishap averted at Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills in Rajahmundry as carbon peroxide laden tanker leaked. The fire department swung into action and diluted the vapour which was released from the tanker. Four fire tenders fought for over three hours to clear the air. Two fire tenders from Rajahmundry, one form Kovvur and another from APPM sprayed water to dilute the vapour of the chemical. There was 26 tonnes of chemical in the tanker when the chemical started to leak.Talking to the TOI, East Godavari District Fire Officer, Martin Luther King said that he had received the call at 9.16 and fire tenders were deployed near the north gate of the mill where tanker was parked. He mentioned that there is system in the tanker to release the vapour when the pressure increases.However, he said that the vapour started to leak from the tanker due to the non-functioning of the system. The fire tenders had only option to dilute the vapour which was leaking from the tanker. The temperature has reached to alarming 47 degree Celsius in the atmosphere outside the tanker.Due to the relentless spraying of water, the temperature came down to 26 degrees. At the time, an expert in a protective outfit ventured into the tank and opened the valve in order to release all the 26,000 kilograms of chemical from the tanker. If anyone inhaled the vapour, he said that it could result to dangerous consequences and the abundant water supply from he Paper Mill helped the cause. Luckily, no one was hurt.