Aishwarya Kumar, Pune
It was only three weeks ago that the PCMC-run Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Swimming Pool in Kaserwadi had a new chlorine cylinder refill. The rusty cylinder, however, did not capture much attention, despite the old-rusty look.
The same rusty cylinder caught the attention of the security guard on duty on Tuesday morning, at around 9 a.m. He noticed a strong odor of chlorine gas and immediately reported it to other staff. The chlorine in the cylinder that was leaked was used to clean water in the swimming pool
The swimmers were rushed out of the pool, and they started experiencing breathing difficulties, coughing, and uneasiness. The staff immediately reported it to the fire brigade, which assisted the staff in controlling the situation. Reportedly, not just the swimmers but also the citizens in the nearby areas were experiencing breathing problems along with coughing and throat problems.
The rescue team had rushed the citizens and swimmers to Yashwantrao Chavan Hospital for treatment. It was reported that some citizens even fell unconscious as a result of chlorine leakage, as the gas had spread an average of 500 m around the swimming pool area. The nearby road and swimming pool were closed until the situation was under control to prevent more casualties.
The emergency response team, fire brigade, and police were quick to arrive and submerge the faulty cylinder in the pool to dissolve the gas in the water. The fire brigade team arrived with a breathing apparatus set to handle the situation, as everyone inside the swimming pool area was having breathing problems.
The cylinder containing chlorine gas had started leaking from below. The leakage was only found in one cylinder, and the situation is under control, said a fire brigade official.