Residents of Aiginia under Khandagiri police limits faced panic early Thursday after an ammonia leak at a potato cold storage facility.
Around 1 am, locals sensed a strong ammonia odour spreading from the unit. Several residents reported eye irritation and breathing difficulties. Concerned about the danger, they alerted the fire department and Khandagiri police.
Firefighters and a specialised strike force team rushed to the site. Authorities evacuated nearby residents as a precaution. Wearing protective gear, fire personnel entered the premises and identified a fault in the valve packing of the ammonia pipeline.
Teams worked for nearly three hours to control the situation. They sprayed an atomised solution to neutralise the gas and used water to prevent further spread. The damaged valve was sealed, and the leak was fully contained.
Police confirmed that by early morning, the situation had returned to normal. Evacuated residents safely returned to their homes. Officials have initiated an inquiry to determine the cause of the malfunction.
