Nizampet residents stage protest over ongoing toxic gas leaks; Demand action

Nizampet: Pragathi Nagar residents staged a protest on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Elip X Roads, demanding immediate action from the Pollution Control Board (PCB), following a series of incidents involving poisonous gas that has been affecting the community for the past three days. The residents of Pragathi Nagar, under the Qutbullapur limits of Nizampet, are particularly alarmed by the chemical gases reportedly released by a nearby pharmaceutical company during the early hours.

Residents have reported severe suffocation and illness due to the toxic fumes. Speaking with the Hyderabad Mail, Sai Teja, a resident, described the alarming situation, “The poisonous gas leak has been ongoing for three days, and we are suffering immensely. It becomes increasingly unbearable when we go to higher floors, especially the fourth or above. The air is filled with harmful, chemical-laden gas that is causing nausea, vomiting, and distress among residents, including pregnant women, elderly citizens, and small children. It’s terrifying to breathe in this toxic smog.”

The resident further noted, “We have submitted nearly 60 to 70 complaints to the Pollution Control Board and Prajavani, but there has been no response. This lack of action prompted us to stage a protest to safeguard our lives. There are numerous industries in our vicinity, and while we think we may have identified the source of the leak, we are not entirely sure. However, officials have not addressed our concerns.”

Another resident, Shiva, expressed frustration, stating, "This is a fully developed city, and we don’t understand why no action has been taken. All the apartment residents living above the third floor came down, and some even vomited due to the toxic gas. Everyone is now wearing masks, and we urge the authorities to address this issue as soon as possible. The industries typically release the gas while everyone is sleeping and during rainy weather, but over the past few days, it has been particularly overwhelming; we can hardly breathe. If this problem is not resolved today, we will go directly to the Pollution Board office and stage a protest. We have even detected this smell spreading across a 5 km radius."

Attempts to reach the Environmental Engineer of Pragathi Nagar, Nizampet, for comment were unsuccessful. We will update the copy as soon as we receive a response.