A leak at the TDI (Toluene diisocyanate) gas plant of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizer Limited Company (GNFC) early Thursday morning killed four people and critically affected twelve others who are now admitted at a private hospital in the Bharuch district in Gujarat.

This was the second such leak at the plant following a leak in January 2014 which affected 21 people. The Bharuch District Administration’s Disaster Management team, along with the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the police reached the spot and registered a complaint with the Dahej police.

Police inspector Vipul Prasad told the Indian Express, “We have started probe into the incident and the company has been shut down. All the employees and labourers had been evacuated. Other eight who were affected are still undergoing treatment at a private hospital, while the condition of two others is said to be critical. The GPCB, Factory inspector and Disaster teams have also reached and they have started probe.”

A faulty gasket lead to a phosgene gas leak. Those at work reported having trouble breathing. The plant was shutdown after a few company officials reached the spot. Three of the four deceased (Khurshid Shafi, Mohammed Tayyab Ansari, Mohammed Jainuddin, Vasim Ahmed — all residents of Dahej) were already dead on arrival at the hospital.

Questions are being asked about the safety standards in units at Bharuch since there was a Hydrogen leak in the Dahej unit of Meghmani Fine Chem Ltd. in September this year.