Travel / Health Advisory

 Leakage of Toxic Gas kills about 100 cattle in Chittagong

Situation Report # 03 Disaster Forum 19-02-2004
(This "Situation Report" is also available in our web site: www.disasterforum.org)

The whole nation has been overwhelmed with the news of toxic waste released directly to a canal at the south side of the Karnaphuli river which caused deaths of about 100 cattle at Barasat Union in Anwara Upazilla last Monday. Newspaper sources informed us that nearly 100 cattle, mostly buffaloes died from toxic gas poisoning following a leakage at Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL).

The animals died between 12.00 and 3.00 pm Monday after drinking poisoned water from the canal directly linked to the CUFL pipelines that release industrial waste. The CUFL authorities used to pump out the industrial waste through the pipelines that end in the canal the source further informed. The animals died as the canal water had developed concentrated ammonia gas in the canal. At least 40 families were affected by this tragic incident.

This specific incident not only has created a pathetic situation for the affected families, it also has left very grave effects on the whole environment of that particular area. The Parki canal and Gobadia canal have become severely affected with this concentrated waste infiltration from the industry which has  caused huge losses of fish and other water-born creatures, which in turn produce harmful affects on the overall bio-diversity of that area.


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