Om Birla Inspects Kota Hospital, Engages with Children Impacted by Gas Leak
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Synopsis
Om Birla visited the JK Lone Hospital in Kota to check on children affected by a gas leak. He directed ongoing health monitoring and called for a thorough investigation into the incident while ensuring support for affected families.
Key Takeaways
- Om Birla visited the affected children.
- Continuous health monitoring was instructed.
- A comprehensive investigation was mandated.
- Support for affected families was assured.
- Factory safety protocols were emphasized.
Jaipur, Feb 17 (NationPress) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited the JK Lone Hospital in Kota on Monday to meet with students affected by the ammonia gas leak incident that occurred last week.
He instructed the medical staff to keep a close watch on their health and provided essential guidelines to the medical board overseeing their care.
Moreover, he urged the administration to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the incident, ensuring that every detail is included in the findings.
Speaker Birla assured that all possible support and assistance would be extended to the families of those affected.
He also called on factory owners to adhere to proper safety protocols to avert similar occurrences in the future.
He stressed that appropriate actions would be taken based on the investigation's outcomes from all relevant departments.
Rajasthan Energy Minister Hiralal Nagar reported that the medical board is actively conducting health assessments and that all children are currently in stable condition.
He confirmed that the children would only be released from the hospital when their families are fully satisfied with their recovery.
Minister Nagar also mentioned that symptoms such as eye irritation, excessive tearing, breathing issues, throat discomfort, and an unusual smell were evident in the children, suggesting a gas leak.
Speaker Birla added that the precise cause of the leak and any potential negligence would be established following a detailed investigation.
Chambal Fertilisers Chemical Limited (CFCL) runs a factory in Garhpan village, Simaliya, Kota.
A government higher secondary school is situated adjacent to the factory, its boundary directly touching the school grounds, with the factory gate nearly 500 metres away.
On the morning of February 15, during school prayers, ammonia gas was emitted from the CFCL facility during a shutdown.
Shortly thereafter, the gas began to affect the school and surrounding areas, leading to symptoms like breathlessness, eye irritation, and vomiting among residents.
This incident caused the health of 18 students, including 15 girls, to deteriorate.
Six of those affected were admitted to Kota's JK Lone Hospital for treatment.
Medical College Principal Sangeeta Saxena, JK Lone Hospital Superintendent Nirmala Sharma, and doctors from various departments were present.
