Chicalim (Goa) The disaster response mechanism swung into action after a tanker carrying Ammonia over turned at Chicalim last mid night. Hundreds of people who were on their sleep had to be evacuated by police and fire and emergency services.

The tanker carrying Ammonia had over turned at the Highway and the gas started leaking out.  

The disaster response mechanism was pressed into action with the people being asked to vacate their houses as the gas had spread around the entire area of Chicalim which is located on the highway, few kilometers away from State Airport.

“The tanker carrying ammonia overturned at around 2.45 a.m. and the gas started leaking from it. Police and Fire and Emergency Services were directed to raise an alarm and evacuate the entire area,” Deputy Collector Mahadev Arondekar said.

The highway crossing through  Chicalim village was also blocked diverting the traffic through other roads, he said.

Nearly 300 houses are located in the area where the incident took place.

Nolasco Raposo, Police inspector of Vasco, said that the they received information around 2.45 a.m. that the tanker has over turned at Chicalim, following which the safety officer at Zuari Agro Chemicals factory for which the ammonia was taken was contacted.

The rescue team was also sent to the site to tackle the situation. We have also stopped the motorists from using the road. Also we have informed the public in the vicinity to evacuate and to cover their mouth with masks or wet clothes. People were sleeping when the incident happened.