Unknown odour reported from Mumbai suburbs, gas leakage suspected

Residents in the western and eastern suburbs of Mumbai have been reporting of an unknown odour since the late Thursday night (September 19), sparking rumours of a gas leakage at the Rashtriya Chemical Fertilisers plant in the Chembur suburb, officials said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said late Thursday that the odour was reported from Powai, Chembur, Mankhurd, Govandi, Chandivali, Andheri and Ghatkopar areas.

“We have received complaints from citizens about odour of some unknown gas in eastern and western suburbs. MCGM has mobilized all concerned agencies. 9 fire engines have been mobilized at various places to find out source of leakage. For any queries, please call 1916,” the BMC tweeted.

A police official said no injuries were reported. A fire brigade spokesperson said the unknown odour was also reported from areas adjoining of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in northern suburb Borivli.

Nine fire engines were send at various places to find out the source of leakage, the official said.

The Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), which supplies piped gas in Mumnai, said in a statement that it had been receiving complaints of gas smell from various parts of Mumbai. “Our emergency teams have reached the sites from where the complaints have been received. So far, we have not come across any breach in our pipeline system which could result in leakage of gas,” it said.

A BMC official said, “In order to trace the origin of the reported gas leak, we deployed fire engines at Deonar, Mankhurd, Chembur, Vikhroli, Dindoshi, Vile Parle, Kanivali and Dahisar areas”. “A total of 29 complaints were received by the BMC control room regarding an unknown smell, which has considerably reduced now,” he said. Four mergency vans of MGL were also mobilised, the official said.

(With inputs from agencies)