Ammonia Gas Leak in Kota

• 17 Feb 2025

Why in News? 

Ammonia gas leaked from a Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (CFCL) plant near Gadepan village in Kota district of Rajasthan. This leak caused students of a government school to fall sick, with the children complaining of nausea and fainting after inhaling the gas’s sharp, suffocating odor.

Key Points

• Impact of the Gas Leak: 
  • The gas leak affected students who went to the school grounds to fetch water, with some complaining of breathlessness and abdominal pain. 
  • The school and the CFCL factory share boundaries, likely contributing to the exposure. 
  • School staff immediately transported the students to the hospital in their own vehicles as their condition worsened. 
• Precautionary Measures: 
  • As a precautionary measure, the school was closed, and children were sent home after the incident, which caused panic in the village. 
  • Lok Sabha Speaker and local officials visited the hospital to check on the affected students. 

Ammonia Gas (NH₃) 

• About: 
  • It is a compound of Nitrogen and Hydrogen. 
  • It is a colorless gas with a pungent, penetrating odor. 
  • Ammonia is highly reactive and a soluble alkaline gas. 
• Mode of Production: 
  • Natural: 
    • Produced in soil through bacterial processes. 
    • Generated during the decomposition of organic matter, including plants, animals, and animal waste. 
    • Bacteria in the intestines also produce ammonia, and a small amount is generated by lightning strikes. 
  • Commercial: 
    • Produced through steam reforming of natural gas and coal gasification. 
• Uses: 
  • Used to produce nitrogen compounds like urea, the most commonly used source of nitrogen in fertilizers. 
  • Applied directly to soil for crops, lawns, and plants. 
  • Utilized in various cleaning products. 
  • Forms compounds like ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and various ammonium phosphates. 
  • Used in the manufacture of explosives. 
  • Used in refrigeration and cooling systems. 
• Impact: 
  • Plants: 
    • Causes direct toxic damage to leaves. 
    • Alters plant susceptibility to frost, drought, and pathogens, including insect pests and invasive species. 
  • Health Risks: 
    • Long-term exposure to low concentrations or short-term exposure to high concentrations can cause adverse health effects from inhalation. 
    • Symptoms may include burning sensations in the nose, throat, and respiratory tract irritation.