Victims include 100 children; Collector orders closure of Chemfab Alkalis Limited THE ghost of the Bhopal gas tragedy rocked Puducherry s when more than 300 people s including 100 children from Chinna Kalapet took ill after inhaling chlorine gas, which had leaked from Chemfab t Alkalis Limited, situated in s the area. They developed nausea, vomiting and of the throat irritation after inhal r ing the gas with some even t fainting around the time (be s tween 7.30 and 8 am) that they were brought to the In r dira GH after being referred by the Primary Health Cen c tre, Kalapet. A 10-year-old boy Santosh, t who was admitted to the pae s diatric ICU, was provided with oxygen. The others including an infant werel examined and kept under gen l eral observation. "No one is serious, in fact everyone is e fine. There is no cause for l worry," said home and health minister E Valsaraj who vis i ited the patients. He said that the collector had ordered the closure of the factories of Chemfab Alkalis Limited under Section 144 CrPC. Valsaraj who is the minister for science, technology and environment said that an enquiry had been ordered. Medical superintendent of the hospital V Govindraj said that no one was serious and the symptoms developed due to the inhalation of chlorine would subside in two to three hours. "The pungent smell of chlorine in heavy quantities will produce irritation and nausea," said M C K Reddy, paediactric specialist and Unit-III head. As chlorine gas is heavier than air, it settles down instead of going up, as a result of which its effect is greater. Narrating the incident, Valsaraj said that due to a leakage in a safety valve of a storage tank, which is operated manually, the gas had leaked. The factory will remain closed till the enquiry is completed and corrective measures are implemented.