One dead, 10 ill after ammonia cylinder bursts

KOLKATA - One worker died and 10 of his colleagues were taken seriously ill Friday after inhaling toxic ammonia gas that leaked following a cylinder burst in an ice-making factory at Barrackpore in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, police said.

“One of those affected died in hospital,” said fire and emergency services director Gopal Bhattacharya. He said search was on to find out whether more people were trapped in the factory.

Twelve fire tenders have been rushed for rescue operation.

The incident happened Friday evening when the victims were working in the factory. The cylinder suddenly burst and the workers fell ill due to the poisonous gas.

A police source said though emergency rescue teams reached the spot, they were waiting for the fire brigade to hose down the affected area.