A total of 19 workers were hospitalized after being affected by a hazardous gas leak at the Grasim Industries plant.

Nineteen workers at a Grasim Industries unit in Karwar, Karnataka, were hospitalized on January 11 after a chemical gas leak caused them to fall ill. The majority of the workers were from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The gas leak, attributed to a leak of chlorine gas, caused 14 workers to be taken to the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences due to symptoms such as burning eyes and breathing difficulties. Five others were treated on-site. Angry locals and workers’ unions staged protests, accusing the company of poor safety standards and cover-ups. Protesters alleged that the company’s siren, which should have warned of danger, was not sounded, putting nearby schools, colleges, and houses at risk. Residents are demanding that the plant be shut down until a safety audit is conducted and it is cleared for use, as well as the registration of a case against those responsible for the gas leak.