Ammonia gas leak at factory in MP causes panic, workers shifted
Ratlam (MP) (PTI): Ammonia gas leak at a factory in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district affected some people and triggered a panic, prompting authorities to shift workers from the unit, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident took place in Jaora town of the district at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday, following which police, fire brigade and administration authorities rushed to the site and stopped the leakage, they said.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Trilochan Gaud said the ammonia gas leak occurred at Porwal Ice Factory in Jaora town.
"Prima facie, it was ammonia leak. The police and the administration immediately sprinkled water, stopped the gas leak and brought the situation under control," Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar said.
Some affected people were provided medical treatment, he said without elaborating.
There is a police line adjacent the factory. Some police personnel on night stroll first felt the gas leakage and acted as the first responder, the official said.
The gas leak was promptly detected and it was not a big incident, Gaud said.
Labourers from the factory were shifted immediately, he said.
Fire brigade immediately controlled the gas leak by spraying water, the SDM said, adding the situation is currently under control.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Govt to set up Bureau of Port Security to boost port, vessel security
New Delhi (PTI): To beef up the security infrastructure of ports, the government will set up a statutory body -- the Bureau of Port Security -- that will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information of ports and vessels, officials said on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened a meeting for the constitution of the dedicated body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), which was attended by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and the Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, an official statement said.
Emphasising that there is a need to establish a country-wide robust port security framework, Shah directed that security measures should be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, taking into account vulnerabilities, trade potential, location, and other relevant parameters.
ALSO READ: Four arrested in cattle theft case after encounter in UP's Kaushambi
The meeting also noted that lessons learned from the maritime security framework shall be replicated in the aviation security domain, the statement said.
The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), it said.
Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
"During the transition period of one year, the director general of shipping shall function as the director general of BoPS," the statement said.
"The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats," it said.
The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
"These agencies shall be certified and appropriate regulatory measures shall be introduced to ensure that only the licensed PSAs operate in this sector," the statement said.
