A major oleum gas leak at a chemical unit in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Palghar district led to the evacuation of over 2,600 people, including school students and workers, after dense white fumes spread across nearby areas. Authorities activated emergency response teams and brought the leak under control. A few cases of eye irritation were reported, but no serious injuries or hospitalizations have been confirmed so far.
Oleum, also known as fuming sulphuric acid, can cause eye, throat, and respiratory irritation on exposure, making rapid evacuation and safety measures essential in such incidents.
That was such a tragic incident, but the thing is it is not the first one happen, nor is it the last one. Large-scale companies often overlook the safety measures for maximising profit, thus risking the lives of workers by exposing them to such harsh chemicals.
Oleum (fuming sulphuric acid) exposure can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract. Even if no major injuries were reported, long term monitoring of exposed individuals may still be important as a precaution.
Gas leaks are very common in India nowadays, especially from factories. There is no strict law that takes care of this, which is my assumption. Innocent lives are lost while factories function without any proper norms.
