Nagaon: Residents of Samaguri in Assam’s Nagaon district were left frightened after a high-pressure nitrogen gas leak occurred during a tanker unloading operation on National Highway 127 on November 6.
The incident took place while nitrogen was being transferred from a capsule tanker to another vehicle. The tanker had reportedly been involved in an accident two days earlier and was subsequently kept under police custody.
According to reports, gas suddenly escaped at high pressure, producing dense vapour that quickly reached nearby residential areas. The unexpected leakage forced several residents to rush outside their homes amid fears of a possible health hazard.
The tanker reportedly belongs to an oxygen plant at Gendhali in Samaguri. Questions have been raised over the safety arrangements at the site, with allegations that the transfer was being carried out without adequate precautionary measures.
Although nitrogen is non-flammable, its release in large quantities can reduce oxygen levels and pose a suffocation risk, particularly in enclosed spaces. The cause of the leak and whether anyone was injured remain unconfirmed. Further details are awaited.
