Chlorine leakage was also found in 2003, 2007

Mumbai: Four days after a major chlorine gas leak at Mumbai Port Trust (MPT), that left close to a 100 people affected. CNN-IBN has found that it was not the first time a leakage had occurred at the site.

It has been reported that three major leaks had occured in the same area in 2003 and in 2007. Once in 2003 and twice in 2007 various cylinders of the same lot (lot of over 40 cylinders) that remain stored there containing chlorine gas had leaked. Shockingly, this information was kept under wraps and nothing was done

According to Port Trusts' own records, at least 186 such cylinders containing hazardous substances are still lying in the Mumbai Port Trusts warehouses and a yard.

More than 100 people had taken ill after chlorine gas leaked early on Wednesday at the MPT scrapyard. The gas leak was noticed around 3.30 am when people in the area started complaining of burning eyes, breathlessness and nausea.

A total of 141 cylinders, of which 136 were empty, were lying in open for nearly 14 years in the scrapyard. The cylinders were imported in 1997, but the importers had not taken delivery of the consignment.