Odisha Gas Leak: Seven Staff Of Prawn Processing Unit Arrested

Balasore: A day after the toxic gas leak in a prawn processing factory in Balasore district, police on Thursday arrested seven staff of the unit and forwarded them to court.

Those arrested include the general manager, production manager, HR manager, safety manager, two supervisors and one shift in-charge of the factory.

Over 100 workers, mostly women, had fallen ill after coming in contact with the toxic gas in the factory owned by Falcon Marine Exports, a leading aquaculture firm dealing with the production, processing and export of fresh and frozen seafood.

Following the incident, Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Minister Sushant Singh had directed the Labour Commissioner to ascertain whether minors were engaged in the factor when the mishap took place.

Terming the incident unfortunate, chairman of Falcon Marine Exports Tara Patnaik claimed that there was no gas leak inside the factory and the mishap occurred due to overdose of bleaching powder. “The gas emanated after bleaching power came in contact with water. The women workers were affected as they were working inside an AC room,” he added.

Meanwhile, a forensic team from Bhubaneswar reached the factory for an investigation.