Rampur chemical spill tragedy: Accountability in transporting chemicals

摘要

The media reported that people who fell into a pool in Manpur near Rampur in Uttar Pradesh on 16 May 2008 turned blind. Many of the victims were brought to the Eye casualty of Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (RAPCOS), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. On the same day, a team of experts from RAPCOS went to Manpur to evaluate the source of the problem, ascertain the chemical responsible for the ocular morbidity and assess the victims admitted in the Rudrapur and Haldwani government hospitals nearby. The team collected samples of the spilt chemical. An analysis of these samples revealed a strong alkali-caustic soda (i.e. sodium hydroxide of approximately 40% w/v with pH >13.3). From the site spillage analysis, it was found that the estimated quantity spilt was 4000-8000 L, spread over an area of >200 m2 of the water channel.