A chlorine gas leak from a rusted industrial cylinder at an abandoned sewage treatment plant inside the IIM Mumbai campus has reignited concerns over the management of legacy hazardous chemicals and aging industrial assets across India.
The incident occurred late Saturday night at a non-operational sewage treatment plant (STP) located within the Powai campus of Indian Institute of Management Mumbai. Emergency responders were called after a strong chlorine odor was detected near the site, eventually leading authorities to discover a leaking chlorine cylinder estimated to be more than a decade old.
According to officials, six individuals suffered minor injuries due to chlorine exposure, including three civic security personnel and three members of the Mumbai Fire Brigade. All were treated for respiratory distress and later discharged after medical observation.
The response operation quickly escalated into a hazardous materials incident.
Specialized HAZMAT teams equipped with breathing apparatus were deployed to locate and contain the source of the leak. Initial efforts to seal the cylinder proved unsuccessful because of severe corrosion and rust damage. Emergency teams ultimately neutralized the chlorine using caustic soda and water-based containment measures before bringing the situation under control during the early morning hours.
The incident highlights a broader challenge facing industrial facilities, educational institutions, water treatment plants, and municipal infrastructure across India: the safe management of aging chemical inventories.
Chlorine remains one of the world’s most widely used industrial chemicals and plays a critical role in water treatment, sanitation, chemicals manufacturing, plastics production, pharmaceuticals, and numerous industrial processes. However, its highly reactive nature also makes improper storage and handling a significant safety risk.
For the chemicals industry, the event serves as a reminder that legacy chemical assets can remain hazardous long after facilities cease operations. Experts note that abandoned storage systems, aging cylinders, unused treatment plants, and forgotten chemical inventories often pose greater risks than active industrial installations because inspection and maintenance practices may lapse over time.
The incident also underscores the importance of periodic hazardous material audits, particularly at older facilities where chemical storage infrastructure may have exceeded its intended service life.
Officials stated that the leaking cylinder originated from a long-abandoned STP facility that was no longer operational. Following the incident, authorities initiated precautionary measures and inspections to ensure no additional hazardous materials remain at risk within the premises.
While the leak was contained without any major environmental impact, industry observers say the event highlights the growing need for stronger end-of-life management protocols for industrial chemicals, particularly chlorine and other highly reactive substances that remain widely used throughout water treatment and municipal infrastructure systems.
As India’s industrial and urban infrastructure continues to age, incidents such as the one at IIM Mumbai may increasingly draw attention to the often-overlooked risks associated with dormant facilities and legacy chemical inventories.