Fish, cows die, leaves discoloured after Chittagong DAP factory gas leak

Reports of fish of several enclosures and at least two cows dying due to the Monday night gas leakage at a fertiliser factory in Chittagong have surfaced.

The leakage of poisonous and pungent smelling ammonia took place about 10pm Monday at the Anwara-based Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) factory that sent at least 52 people to the hospital.
 
The latest report on the death of animals was accompanied by accounts of discolouring of leaves of trees in the area, apparently also due to the effect of the gas leakage.
 
Despite the telling effect on animals, plants and animals, experts seem hopeful that long term effects of the leak would be negligible.
 

Chittagong University's forestry and environmental sciences Prof Danesh Mia told bdnews24.com: "Nitrous from ammonia mixes with oxygen forming oxide that is harmful for lungs. Ammonia also mixes with water increasing alkalinity which also affects life forms adversely.

"The fish and animals that died were from adjoining areas of the factory. It is expected that long term effects will be very negligible."

Meanwhile, authorities of both the factory as well as Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation are yet to pinpoint the cause of the disaster.

They have not yet specified if the dispersion of gas was the result of a tank rupture or an explosion in the tank.

DAP MD Amal Kanti Barua, however, has spoken of the effected tank displacing by "50 feet" during the incident.

But he did not call it an explosion.

Chittagong district's Deputy Commissioner Mejbah Uddin has termed it "an accident".

Locals have, however, reported hearing an unpleasant noise about the time of the disaster.

Meanwhile, the air in the effected region of the port city is fast recovering to tolerable levels.