2 who helped avert leaking gas tanker mishap felicitated

NAVI MUMBAI: Raigad superintendent of police, Mohammed Suvez Haque, felicitated Pezari village samaritans

Rohan

Patil and Kunal Mhatre on Thursday. RCF employee

Girish Patil

will be felicitated on October 13 by the IGP.

Rohan Patil risked his life and drove the leaking ammonia gas loaded tanker to a safer location.

Assistant inspector RN Raje,Poynad police station, said, “RCF employee Girish Patil offered help to the police team. Rohan Patil took a risky and drove away the ammonia gas loaded tanker to an open area as the driver had fled the spot.

Kunal Mhatre was present during the emergency hours. After the leakage spot of the tanker was sealed, Rohan drove it back to RCF-Thal unit, added Raje.

Rohan Patil said, “When RCF experts said that the ammonia tanker must be moved to be a safer location at the soonest, I took the risk. I was afraid but as I possess a diploma in fire and safety, I took a fireman’s breathing equipment and drove away the tanker. However, I was exposed to ammonia a couple of times while taking a U-turn and felt uneasy.”

The ammonia gas leaking tanker from RCF-Thal unit was driven from Pezari village to

Teen Vira

dam, and back to to RCF-Thal unit on Tuesday.

The 15MT ammonia gas tanker was bound for heavy water plant at the

Tuticorin

unit under the department of atomic energy.

The ‘dip stick’ of the truck was damaged following poor road condition.

Several villagers faced breathing problems, eye irritation and coughing spells after the leaking tanker was abandoned in the village.