SAHIWAL: Three workers of a cold storage fainted while many people in the surroundings suffered breathing problems and eye rashes after the leakage of ammonia gas from the unit located on the Madhali Road on Tuesday.
The residents of private residential colonies like Rafi Garden and Al-Razag Villas complained of breathing problems while they had cough, eye burning problems and throat irritation.
The gas leakage reportedly created panic in the area and forced a number of people to escape to other areasin a bid to avoid the bad effects of gas. The locals thought it was the effect of some spray being done on the crops in the nearby fields. Later, it was declared that a pipe of ammonia gas broke in the Green Cold Storage.
Rescuers1122received three emergency calls from the people as well as the cold storage unit premises. The rescuers reported that none of the citizens fainted but factory sources informed the media that three cold storage employees who tried to repair the pipe had lost consciousness.
However, they recoveredon receiving first aid on the site.
Ehtasham, a resident of the Rafi Garden, said a sharp stinking smell had spread in the whole colony. The first team that responded to the situation was Rescue 1122 while none from the civil defense or Environmental Protection Department reached there.
The rescuers said it took 40 minutes for the cold storage mechanic to fix the leakage by replacing the rusty iron pipe.
TTP MAN HELD: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested an alleged militant of the banned Te h r e e k-i-T a liba n Pakistan (TTP) on Tuesday, recovering hand grenades and explosives from him.
CTD officials claimed the suspected militant was arrested in an operation conducted in the jungle on the south side of the Pakpattan Canal on the basis of some clues.
They said two hand grenades, three detonators and explosive material was also recovered from the suspect.
They said the suspect was identified as Amaad Ali Pathan, a resident of Islamabad.
After registration of a case, the suspect was shifted to an undisclosed location for investigation.
