In a shocking industrial mishap that sent shockwaves through Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district, a chlorine gas leak at a ferric sulphate manufacturing factory in Jaora Industrial Area has left five people hospitalized, including three brave firefighters.
As of Sunday, December 7, 2025, the situation remains under control, but the incident has spotlighted glaring safety shortcomings in the region's chemical sector.
The drama unfolded around 6 PM on Saturday, December 6, when a 40-kg chlorine cylinder—alarmingly 30 years old—began leaking at the unnamed factory. Workers inside the unit, which supplies ferric sulphate to pharmaceutical companies, first tried to seal the breach themselves but failed amid the toxic fumes.
Panic ensued as the colorless, pungent gas spread rapidly, causing vomiting, eye irritation, and breathing difficulties. Ten employees were on site at the time, with five suffering direct exposure and rushing to safety.
What made matters worse? The initial firefighting response. Rushing to the scene, the Jaora fire brigade sprayed water on the leaking cylinder in a bid to contain it. But chemistry had other plans: the water reacted with the chlorine, vaporizing it into a denser steam that amplified the spread.
Firefighters Kuldeep Gehlot, Balaram, and Pushkar Devaria were hit hardest, their eyes burning and lungs choking despite wearing basic masks—no full protective gear was available.3830e6 "We felt suffocated instantly," one survivor later recounted to local media.
The two factory workers, whose names haven't been disclosed, fared slightly better and were admitted to a private hospital in Jaora, where their conditions are now stable. The firefighters, however, landed in the ICU at Ratlam Medical College for intensive care, battling respiratory distress.
As dawn broke on Sunday, medical teams reported gradual improvement, with no life-threatening complications so far. Red Cross volunteers and ambulances stood by, ensuring swift aid.
District authorities sprang into action overnight. Collector Misha Singh and Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar donned masks and inspected the site, evacuating nearby areas as a precaution. Operations in at least 10 adjacent factories ground to a halt, sending hundreds of workers home amid fears of further leaks.
Jaora MLA Dr. Rajendra Pandey arrived furious, grilling the absent factory owner and staff on why no engineer was present and safety protocols were ignored. "This is criminal negligence," he thundered, demanding immediate action.
A technical rescue squad from Ipca Laboratories in Ratlam and Nagda's chemical units, equipped with proper hazmat suits, finally stemmed the leak after three grueling hours, around 9:15 PM. The State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) assisted, neutralizing the site.
Early Sunday probes point to multiple red flags: outdated equipment, zero emergency drills, and inadequate ventilation. The factory, owned by a local 'Khan' family business, joins a troubling pattern—recall the ammonia gas scare at Jaora's Porwal Ice Factory just eight months ago in April 2025, where licensing lapses nearly caused disaster.
As investigations deepen, environmental watchdogs and labor officials are poring over records for pollution board violations and worker safety breaches.
"We won't rest until accountability is fixed," vowed SP Kumar in a morning briefing. For now, Jaora's air is clear, but the scare lingers—a stark reminder that in India's booming industrial belts, cutting corners on safety can turn a workplace into a warzone.
