Ammonia Gas Leak: Authorities scramble to contain Jain Ice Mill incident in Jalandhar

A team of refrigeration experts from Verka Milk Plant visited Jain Ice Mill here on September 25 to remove hazardous ammonia gas still trapped in the pipes, three days after a devastating leak. The incident, which occurred last Saturday, prompted authorities to immediately halt operations, seal the factory, and cut off its power supply.

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However, residents in the nearby area have raised concerns about the possibility of another leak, fearing that the unused pipes, which transported ammonia, still contain significant amounts of gas. With the factory shut down, the unused pipes may corrode and weaken, increasing the risk of further leaks.

Local residents approached DC Himanshu Aggarwal, urging action to eliminate the remaining ammonia before any further dangers arise. Acting swiftly, DC Aggarwal directed a specialised team from Verka Milk Plant to address the issue.

The team, along with fire brigade personnel, arrived at the site to begin clearing the gas from the pipes. The entire area surrounding the factory has been barricaded to ensure public safety during the operation.

According to officials, it will take about two days to safely remove all the gas, with work expected to conclude by tomorrow evening.

In the meantime, the police commissionerate have registered an FIR against the factory’s owner, Ninni Kumar Jain, along with unnamed officials from several government departments, in connection with the ammonia leak that claimed the life of 68-year-old migrant worker Sheetal Singh.

The FIR, lodged under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the BNS, accuses officials from Municipal Corporation, Industries Department, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, and Punjab Pollution Control Board of negligence.

Authorities are also investigating how the factory was allowed to operate in such a densely populated area without proper approvals, raising questions about the level of oversight by local officials. A thorough inquiry has been launched, with SDM-I Jalandhar tasked with submitting a detailed report by October 5.