At least 14 women workers were hospitalised after an ammonia gas leak at a meat processing plant in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, triggering panic among employees and prompting a large-scale emergency response. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at ALM Industries Limited, located in the Gagalheri police station area, where several women were engaged in packaging work when the gas leak was reported.
According to officials, the ammonia leak occurred at around 1 pm, causing workers to experience breathing difficulties, dizziness, anxiety and irritation. Several women reportedly fainted on the premises as the gas spread through the work area. Plant management immediately evacuated the affected section and rushed the injured workers to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sadar, Subodh Kumar, said the State Disaster Response Team (SDRT), local police and fire brigade personnel reached the factory soon after receiving information about the leak. Authorities confirmed that all 14 affected workers were admitted to Hari Hospital, where some were initially treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) because of the severity of their symptoms. Officials later said that all the injured workers are now out of danger and in stable condition.
The district administration has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the ammonia leak and whether the factory was following mandatory industrial safety norms. Officials are examining the refrigeration system and other equipment that may have been responsible for the incident. Legal action will be taken if any negligence or violation of safety regulations is found during the inquiry.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over workplace safety in industrial units handling hazardous chemicals. Experts note that ammonia, widely used in refrigeration systems, can cause serious respiratory distress and eye irritation when inhaled in high concentrations, making strict adherence to safety protocols essential. Authorities have assured that the situation is now under control and that preventive measures will be reviewed to avoid similar accidents in the future.
