CHENNAI: About 60 people have been hospitalised after an ammonia leak from a pipeline belonging to India`s Coromandel International near its Ennore plant in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the government said.

The people were hospitalised after they had difficulty in breathing and a burning sensation in the eyes, and 52 people are still under observation, the government said in a statement.

The leak took place when Coromandel`s fertiliser manufacturing unit was preparing to receive an ammonia shipment through its 2.5 kilometre-long undersea pipeline.

`The unit observed pressure drop in the pipeline at around 11.45pm and simultaneously observed pungent odour around the storage terminal and near the material gate,` the statement said.

`They will identify the exact location and the extent of pipeline damage within a day and will rectify the same before commencing the ammonia transfer.

Coromandel`s shares dropped as much as 3.7pc on Wednesday, before closing 1.6pc lower.

`All are safe and normalcy is restored. We have informed relevant authorities about the incident, Coromandel said in an exchange filing earlier in the day.-Reuters