Patna: A sudden ammonia gas leak from a cold storage facility near Kishunpur village in Bihta, Patna, triggered panic on Tuesday late evening, prompting a large-scale emergency response and the temporary closure of a national highway.
According to officials, gas began leaking without warning from the newly constructed cold storage unit, located in a densely populated area of Sikandarpur. Residents reported difficulty breathing as fumes spread across nearby homes.
Police were first to reach the scene and quickly alerted the fire department as well as NDRF and SDRF teams. Multiple emergency units then arrived and began evacuating workers and residents.
The Patna–Ara NH 931, which runs close to the facility, was closed as a precaution.
Workers and residents evacuated
NDRF personnel evacuated all workers inside the cold storage before beginning attempts to control the leak. Locals were moved from nearby homes and several surrounding villages were placed on alert.
Residents expressed anger that a hazardous facility had been set up in a residential area. The cold storage unit had begun operations just two months ago on land leased by the government to a private company. Several locals said the incident had raised serious concerns about long-term safety.
Leak traced to faulty valves
Bihta police station officer Ranjit Kumar said the first alerts came from Kishunpur villagers who reported a strong smell of gas. “We immediately informed the fire brigade and disaster response teams. Residents in the vicinity have been evacuated. The situation is under control,” he said.
NDRF officials later identified the source of the leak. Sunil Kumar Singh, commandant of the 9th Battalion NDRF, said, “After prolonged effort, the leak has been controlled. An inspection found two valves in the cold storage cylinders were leaking. Both have now been repaired.”
Authorities said the road would reopen once air quality readings return to safe levels. An inquiry into the incident and the facility’s safety compliance is expected to follow.
