Pics by Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Jan 23: Residents in some parts of central Mumbai complained of irritation in the eyes and a pungent smell in the area on Saturday, due to a suspected ammonia gas leak. On Saturday morning, residents in Mahim, Shivaji Park, Antop Hill, Matunga and Dadar made frantic calls to the fire brigade complaining of a leak.

Officials from the fire brigade said the origin of the leak could not be found and that concentration of the gas was very low, so no casualties were reported.

“We inspected all areas from where we received calls. We also called up industries in the vicinity which use ammonia in their premises, but they told us there was no leak,” said chief fire officer Uday Tatkare.

He said they suspected that a tanker carrying some chemical may have passed through these areas and the gas could have leaked from it. Officials also said the odour had spread to nearby areas in the four-km radius, before it evaporated. The incident occurred at 8.45 am and the smell continued till 11.30am. “Our eyes were watering due to the gas for some time,” said Shruti Shetty, a resident of Wadala.

Civic officials said ambulances were rushed to the spot, along with the fire brigade.